The Dunedin professional golfer has taken the rare step of asking members at his home club, Otago, for extra financial backing.
Pearce wrote an open letter to the club asking if anyone could help fund his trip to China next week for the Nanshan Masters, a US$1 million ($NZ1.3 million) tournament on the OneAsia circuit.
He estimated he needed (all US dollars): $400 for a membership fee, $70 for a tournament fee, $160 for a visa, $400 for accommodation, $300 for a caddie, $200 for food and taxis and $800 for airfares.
In return, the former New Zealand Open champion offered his time to run coaching clinics or play in company tournaments.
"I put it out to the members. It's a pretty expensive process to get to a place like China for a one-off tournament," Pearce told the Otago Daily Times.
"A handful of people are helping me out, which is great."
Pearce turned professional in 1999 and only survived his early years on tour with the financial backing of a group of businessmen.
"I've been asking for help ever since I turned pro," he smiled.
"I've been lucky enough to have some really good people supporting me over the years. I guess you've got to ask sometimes.
"I won the Open and that made a lot of people happy. There's no reason I can't do it again. I'm only 35 and I think I've got a lot of years ahead in golf."
Pearce has had a relatively quiet 12 months. He played in the major Australian tournaments (the Open, the Masters and the PGA) and a handful of pro-ams and second-tier events.
His most significant payday was at one of Australia's biggest pro-ams in February, the Eynesbury Masters, when he pocketed about $7000 for sharing a victory on seven-under-par.
"It was my last event before I came home and I needed to make some money," he said.
Pearce has limited status on the OneAsia Tour but hopes to get into four or five tournaments. He will then play the Australian summer as well as the New Zealand Open, relocated from The Hills to Clearwater.
In the meantime, he will enjoy a bit more time at home with wife Sally and children Zac (11) and Hannah (3), and pay the bills by working three days a week as a "storeman and delivery boy" at Telfer Electrical.
"It's been quite refreshing. I haven't played a lot of golf this year so I needed something to take my mind off the stresses of money and things like that."
Pearce believes he has matured a lot in recent years and remains optimistic his famous 2003 Open win can be repeated somewhere, some day.
"Every year you learn something different about yourself and about how golf is meant to be played.
"I'd love to be playing 15-20 events a year. If things go well on the OneAsia Tour, that's where I'd like to be over the next five or so years.
"I've won tournaments before and I know I can win again."
