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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- A local golfer is getting ready for a major tee time.

Mike Northern, a 48-year-old Colorado Springs resident, qualified for the 93rd annual PGA Championship in June. He did so after making the top 20 cut out of more than 300 other tournament hopefuls.

Yet swinging with the pros is nothing new for Northern.

"This will be my third time," the Valley Hi Golf Club pro said. "The first PGA Championship that I played in was 10 years ago, and it was actually in the same place, in the Atlanta Athletic Club. In 2004 I got to play at Whistling Straits."

Even though Northern has played in two other PGA tournaments in the past decade, each shot at the title is a dream come true for him.

"I was excited, obviously, to get back for a third time," Northern said. "It's a lifetime experience to get to go spend a week with the best players in the world. Plus, they roll out the red carpet for us. You show up and you get a brand new Mercedes for the week. It's kind of fun to be in the limelight for the week."

But before the fun can begin, Northern has been taking a few extra swings on the course in order to keep up with the best.

"I've got a goal to play all four days," he said. "I know I'll have to shoot even par or better to do that, so I'm putting in some extra time."

The extra time should come in handy, too. Not only does Northern already feel the pressure of the game, but also for who he's representing.

"[I'm] representing Valley Hi Golf Course, the City of Colorado Springs and Colorado," he said. "There aren't any other Colorado players playing, so it's a lot of pressure."

The pressure is on for who he is up against, too.

"Maybe I will get to play with Tiger since he's back from getting injured," Northern said.

So, is the third time the charm?

"That's my motto!" Northern said. "Four good days of golf can change someone's life.

Northern will leave for Atlanta on Saturday. The PGA Championship begins Aug. 8.