The scenario is relatively straightforward but the pressure intense. When Adam Bland looks at the Race to Dubai rankings ahead of the Andalucia Valderrama Masters in Spain this week, he will see his name next to No.117.
But it’s not quite that simple.
There are six affiliate members of the European Tour currently ahead of him – including our own Lucas Herbert – which means for the purposes of determining the top 110 players who retain their cards for 2019, the South Australian is in fact ranked 111th.
That’s one spot outside the most crucial cut-line of all with one event left to play.
The man immediately ahead of him on the Order of Merit, Englishman David Horsey, has a 1,373-point buffer over Bland and will tee off 20 minutes ahead of him tonight while No.115, Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, is 9,698 points ahead of Bland but is not in the field this week.
At last month’s Portugal Masters, which had the same number of total Race to Dubai points up for grabs, players who finished tied for 44th earnt 10,695 points which would be enough for Bland should no one behind him overtake him.
After missing the cut in three of his past four events, it’s a hell of a way to round out Bland’s first full season in Europe.
In 90th position on the Order of Merit, Queenslander Scott Hend is unlikely to have the same concern for his immediate job security; Jason Scrivener should be safe at No.96 and Brett Rumford remains exempt courtesy of his win at the World Super 6 Perth last year.
Marcus Fraser (146th), Andrew Dodt (152nd) and Sam Brazel (159th) all need an outstanding week in Sotogrande if they are to retain their full status in 2019.
Ranked No.43 in the Race to Dubai, Wade Ormsby can shore up his place in the finals series that culminates with the top 60 playing in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, while Jason Norris’s European adventure will come to an end unless he can win this week.
