By Will Pearson, europeantour.com
Just one tournament now stands between some of Europe’s top professionals and the Qualifying School, with those perched precariously close to the drop zone facing a make-or-break week at the ISPS Handa Perth International.
With Lake Karrinyup Country Club in Western Australia again set to host the final full-field event in The 2014 Race to Dubai – the final counting event for players to keep their European Tour card – the stakes could not be any higher for those attempting to save their status on the top rung of European golf.
While the likes of former Masters Tournament winner Charl Schwartzel – at 16th in The Race to Dubai currently – will have his eyes firmly set on pushing into the top 15 heading into the Final Series and a chance of securing a piece of the lucrative Bonus Pool, those further down the season-long ranking present in Perth have their own clear aims also in sight.
Come Sunday evening, the top 110 full members in The 2014 Race to Dubai will retain their playing privileges for next season while those that miss out face a date with destiny at the Qualifying School Final Stage or a season on the Challenge Tour.
With Zimbabwean Brendon De Jonge currently ranked in 66th place as an affiliate member, England’s Matthew Nixon represents the cut-off mark at 111th place on €222,934 going into this week with a little more than €1.2million in prize money on offer in Australia.
Such riches mean, of course, that the door is still open to scores of hopefuls so as we head into a potentially career-defining week for some of those contenders we thought a more detailed look at the possible scenarios was in order.
Assuming Nixon makes no further money by missing the cut in Perth (no offence Matthew!), the following table represents the minimum requirements for those looking to leap-frog back inside the cards mark at the last with a strong showing this week.
Good luck, gentlemen.
FOR FULL RACE TO DUBAI RANKINGS, CLICK HERE
