Golf: Finish at PGA drops pressure on Drysdale

DAVID DRYSDALE doesn’t need to worry about being back at the dreaded Qualifying School at the end of this season after virtually securing his European Tour card for another year.

The 37-year-old moved up to 49th in the Race to Dubai with season’s earnings of close to £180,000 after picking up £62,538 for finishing tenth in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

It means the pressure is off Drysdale, who signed off with a closing 70 for a four-under-par total in the Euroepan Tour’s flagship event, for the rest off the season.

“To be honest, trying to keep my card isn’t something that has really been on my mind the last three or four years,” he said.

“It’s been trying to get myself into positions to win tournaments, but it is nice to have it done and dusted as quick as possible.

“It certainly takes a bit of pressure off and hopefully I can build on this performance for the rest of the year.”

Joint-second at the halfway stage, Drysdale’s title hopes were wrecked by a damaging run around the turn in his third round.

After a great start in the Surrey sunshine, he shared the lead at one point with eventual winner Luke Donald but then ran up a quadruple-bogey 8 after two visits to the water at eighth.

The Cockburnspath man dropped five more shots in the next five holes before battling back with two birdies at the finish for a 78.

His last round was a lot more straightforward, covering the final 13 holes in two-under as he secured the second biggest cheque of his career.

“Overall, I’m delighted,” he said. “It’s a good boost going to the Wales Open this week and I’m also looking forward to the BMW International in Germany in a couple of weeks as I really like that event.”