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I am not sure that I read some recent articles in The Royal Gazette correctly. I am uncertain about the general accuracy of our daily read as it can be unreliable.

But if the story it printed is fact, something very exciting is happening in our golf world.

The Gazette claims Michael Sims "is now assured a place in the field for the rest of the year".

What? No noise, no hullabaloo? No shouting from the rooftops? Where are the trumpets and why isn't someone blowing them?

If this claim is true, it is a major achievement.

The field referred to is the Nationwide Tour, the second toughest professional tour in the U.S. in which to achieve full playing rights.

If Sims has achieved full playing rights on it, all of Bermuda should congratulate him.

Those of us who grind away at golf week in and week out for pleasure should dress up in red and black, toss our hats into the air and do some very serious fist pumps.

Sims is said to have achieved full playing rights for the rest of 2009 thanks to what the Nationwide Tour calls the "reshuffle".

At this time of year it looks at who has done what in terms of the money standings year-to-date.

If you've been playing well and winning dollars, the Tour will reward you. But if you haven't been successful, the Tour will take away what it once conferred upon you.

In other words, it will reshuffle the deck of players and give playing rights to those who are proving themselves in the money queue.

If you don't make many appearances in the money queue, you risk losing your playing rights.

Playing golf for a living is a tough world, one where rewards are based upon merit alone.

You play on your own and you either win a cheque or you don't. The cut comes after two days' play and you are either on the right side of it or you aren't.

If you aren't, you pack your bags and move on. No payday this week, just a bunch of expenses to meet.

If you are not an exempt player, you can turn up each week for the fun known as the Monday Qualifier, where two or three spots might be up for grabs with 40 or 50 people trying for them - all of whom can shoot the lights out of a golf course.

If you earn a spot, make the most of it or you are back to square one.

This is where Sims started the year and he has now found himself at about 31st spot on the money list at just the right time.

If Sims is indeed exempt on the Nationwide Tour for the rest of 2009, Bermuda should be very proud as it is a major achievement in the world of golf.

Sims is our Tiger Woods and he is currently playing some very good golf.

Keep up the good work Michael - we are all rooting for you.

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