David Thomson, the oldest rookie on tour, yesterday went into the Benson and Hedges International Open aiming to save his career from going up in smoke.
The Scot, who has four missed successive cuts, must claim a place among the top 20 and earn #5000 this week to preserve his place on the European Tour.
He languishes in 168th place with just #3398 won from the 10 tournaments in which he has competed. There will be a re-ranking after the event at the Oxfordshire GC and he will lose his automatic exemption unless he can improve dramatically.
''This is the most important week in my golfing life and there is enormous pressure on me to achieve this target,'' admitted the Aberdeen-based player, who will be 37 later this month.
''This is the crossroads because money is running short, and I do not have a sponsor, but I remain confident about the future.
''So far I have have not seen a player on tour who I thought was miles ahead of me. But there is no doubt that this run and the tension it has brought is affecting my game.
''However, I genuinely believe I have been unlucky. I had been playing well when there was a three-week break in competition. When I returned home, the weather was so bad that practice was impossible.
''Thereafter my form has never been the same and as usual in this situation you rarely get a break. Every bad shot hit has been heavily punished.''
A coach of some renown - fellow Scot Paul Lawrie was one of his pupils - Thomson decided to try to make it as a tour professional before it was too late and won his card by finishing sixth at last year's tour school at San Roque. But he was able to take the gamble only through the financial support of his wife Fiona, and his father.
If it all goes wrong, contingency plans are in place. He will return to defend his Atlantic Power Northern Open at Royal Aberdeen and play on the Challenge Tour until places become available on the European Tour.
Despite the gravity of his situation he remains optimistic. He insisted: ''I am playing well and the Oxfordshire suits me. It is a long, tough demanding course where par is a good score.''
Thomson will also participate in next week's Volvo PGA at Wentworth but any winnings will be too late to save his place on the tour.
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