Aberdeen golfer Richie Ramsay is doing everything he can to retain his playing status on the European Tour, including ditching carbs and fizzy drinks.
The three-time European Tour winner is ranked 125th in the Race to Dubai with only the top 110 players at the end of the season keeping their cards for 2019.
Ramsay knows a strong showing in this week’s Portugal Masters can help relieve some of the pressure heading into the closing stretch of the season.
The 35-year-old said: “There is plenty to play for as I am not in the position I wanted but you just have to deal with it.
“I just have to play well, starting this week.
“I played nicely at the KLM Open last week but didn’t score as well as I should have done.
“My game is in good shape but I just haven’t had that big week yet. It feels like it is coming.
“I normally have a couple of good weeks a year.
“On the European Tour the money is top heavy and finishing 30th and 40th doesn’t really move you up the rankings.
“I haven’t got the rewards so far but I need to be patient.
“I’m doing everything possible to eke out the best possible results.
“I am trying to lose a little bit of weight. I am off fizzy drinks and off carbs.
“There are some big tournaments left. I am more than capable of doing it.
“It is a case of getting out there and putting scores on the board.”
Ramsay finished 31st in the Race to Dubai last season but feels he has been playing catch-up this season after illness hindered his start to the season.
He added: “In recent years I have been quite comfortable but there have been a few things with my health this year that didn’t help.
“I was very ill in Oman and couldn’t really play properly.
“I ended up having to miss three tournaments.
“The big thing on the European Tour is also to play well in the Rolex Series and I haven’t done that this year.”
Ramsay is one of eight Scots in action at the Portugal Masters.
Stonehaven’s Sam Locke has secured an invitation for the event with Scott Jamieson, David Drysdale, Marc Warren, Stephen Gallacher, Bradley Neil and Connor Syme also teeing up.