They might be down the Rankings and in need of a big result this week at the Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club, but form-horses Bernd Ritthammer and Jens Fahrbring still harbour hopes of graduation at the end of 72 holes in the desert.
With a place in the top 15 still available to anyone who currently resides outside it, the 25th and 32nd players on the season-long list respectively, still believe they can play well enough to put themselves in the reckoning for a place on the European Tour next season.
Ritthammer is an experienced head coming to the end of his fifth season on the second tier, while Fahrbring tasted victory last year at the Norwegian Challenge, which makes them danger men at the start of a week where both need to finish in the top two or three places if they are to have a shot at graduation.
Bernd Ritthammer
Ranking:25
Best result this season:T3 (Aegean Airlines Challenge Tour by Hartl Resort, Northern Ireland Open Challenge in association with Maui Jim sunglasses and Shankai Classic presented by IDG)
Form:T3 – T19 – T12
“I feel good and am looking forward to this week as I know the course pretty well and the weather is going to be great, so there is nothing to complain about.
“I finished 19th last year, and my game is in good shape, so if I get my putting sorted out I’ll have a chance as that will be the big key this week. It looks like I need top three, at least, but I am just trying to play my best and give myself a chance come Saturday.
“I played decent in the final round at the Foshan Open but my putting was just a mess, and I let that affect the rest of my game. It is always about patience and not getting angry, and that’s what I didn’t do in Foshan, as I had a lot of chances and when I didn’t make them I got quite angry and started making mistakes.
“It was unfortunate, but on the other hand I knew I needed that win, so I was playing for that and when I saw Jason (Palmer) hole a few putts, and that the win was out of reach, I stopped believing and started making mistakes.
“I will try and do my best to stay more patient this week, which is always tough, but I’m really trying hard.
“I am very pleased with how I have played the last couple of weeks, but during the season I have played bad in the wrong events. I missed the cut in Kazakhstan, Sotogrande and Madeira, so I didn’t make any money in the big weeks, which made it difficult to make my way up the Rankings.
“I just missed Rolex too, but I still have a chance and I will try and make use of that. If it doesn’t work out this week though, I have Q-School, and even if that doesn’t happen then I still have a category for The European Tour next season, which I will make use of.
“No matter what happens, I am happy with how the season has gone, and I will try and make the best of it.”
Jens Fahrbring
Ranking:32
Best result this season:T2 (Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge)
Form:T15 – T3 – T34
“I feel kind of relaxed and good about it, as I know I pretty much have to win or finish second to get promoted, so there is one goal – to go and make birdies – and to give it my best.
“I like the course, as a lot of the holes set up for a fade, which I like. The greens are the most difficult thing as they have a lot of grain, but if I can get the putter going then I should be in good shape.
“I just need to make lots of birdies, so it is almost like do or die. So if I play well then that’s great, but if I don’t then at least I have another chance at Q-School, so it is a good feeling.
“After last year with the win, it was more difficult at the start of this season as I had higher expectations and some injuries, so I was trying too much. I’m pretty happy to be where I am at the moment though, I’m playing well, so hopefully I can hole some putts and see what happens.”
