Canberra golfer Matt Millar will quit his teaching job in a bid reignite his full-time professional career after an eight-year break, setting his sights on the lucrative Japan or European Tours "before time runs out".
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Millar has started preparations to make a full-time return to international golf circuit and he has mapped a path to qualify in Japan or Europe.
Millar walked away from professional golf in 2009 to spend more time with his young family, stepping into a teaching role at the Gold Creek Country Club.
But the 40-year-old said he didn't want to look back and have regrets about limited opportunities, deciding to finish his teaching duties at the end of September.
Millar will then launch his campaign with qualifying events in Japan and Spain as well as chasing top-10 results at Australia's major tournaments.
"I've been thinking about it for the past two months. I did all my research, got the entry forms I needed and made that decision," Millar said.
"You've got no expiry date in golf. But I am 40 years old and while I'm playing well, I want to do it again now before I look back in three years and say, 'maybe I should have'.
"I've never given up playing. Yes, I took a bit of a double role for a while with teaching and playing and I always enjoyed it.
"I certainly found out a lot about my own game and myself ... I think I'm ready to go back and try to put in what I've learnt before time runs out."
Millar was keen to win a spot on the Japan tour last year, but a back injury ruined his hopes of securing a berth.
He lost seven kilograms on a strict training program earlier this year and has been working on a plan to manage his playing load to pursue his ambitions.
Millar will play in qualifying tournaments near Tokyo and Barcelona at the end of October before playing at the Australian Open and the Australian PGA.
Millar's preference is to earn a place on the rich European Tour, where he has spent a large chunk of his career, but will be happy with either if he can finish in the required positions.
He is eighth on the Australian order of merit and is setting himself for the $1.5 million Fiji International in the coming weeks to start taking steps back towards to the professional tour.
"I really enjoyed my time in Europe from 2005-09, and maybe deep down I never really let it go," Millar said.
"I've always wanted to go back, and I have been and played selected events and the British Open [in 2011].
"Some people say what are you going to do if it doesn't come off. That's fine, because it will free me up to play more events in Australia.
"It hit me earlier this year. I thought, 'you've got to go and do this again'. So that's the plan and we'll see how I go."
