Sim in good company

Rising star Michael Sim insists he's ready to tangle with the heavyweights of Australian golf after storming into contention with a back-nine birdie blitz at Coolum on moving day.

After an indifferent start, the Western Australian birdied eight of his last 12 holes to post a stunning 65 and move to seven-under for the tournament.

The 25-year-old shares fourth spot alongside Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy heading into the final day of the Australian PGA Championship, two shots adrift of tournament leader Robert Allenby.

But while Sim is no stranger to the top of the leaderboard, having won three times on the Nationwide Tour in 2009, he concedes Sunday looms as an entirely different challenge.

"I play golf tournaments all year. This is my 22nd event and I've been in this position five or six times throughout the year and it's why I play golf - I want to try and win tournaments," Sim said.

"It's probably a little different because I didn't play against some of the top players in the world all year so it's going to be a little different tomorrow."

"I know I've got the game to compete with them, I played with Adam (Scott) and Geoff (Ogilvy) the first two rounds and handled myself well and played good so hopefully it works out tomorrow."

"You've got all the great players, Ogilvy, Scott, Allenby, (John) Senden, it's a great leaderboard and it's going to be a great finish tomorrow."

Asked what it will take to lift the trophy on Sunday afternoon, Sim admitted he must find the fairway with greater consistency.

"I think I've got to hit it a little bit better off the tee, I kind of got away with a few drives today I'm hitting a lot of shots out of the heel of the driver. My iron play's been good and I putted fantastic today. I made a lot of putts and that's the key to winning," he said.

"Normally whoever's leading the putting (statistics) at the end of the week is winning the golf tournament."

"So if I can hit it a little better off the tee tomorrow I'll give myself a really good chance."

Sim also stressed the importance of negotiating the first six holes on the revamped layout, insisting the all-new opening stretch will go a long way to determining the eventual winner.

"I've struggled on those new holes all week," he said.

"I doubled the 2nd on Thursday and two more bogeys today. When the holes are just open and it's hard to get used to them quickly and I'm just not familiar with the holes."

"I didn't hit that bad a drive on three and then I got a flyer over the bag and then made bogey and thought I hit a good wedge shot on four and it caught the ridge and went left and rolled off the green and I made another bogey."

"I've just got to be careful tomorrow on those first six holes and I think that's where the golf tournament could be won or lost."