Richie Ramsay knows he is running out of tournaments and time as he bids to find the form which will secure his European Tour card for 2019.
The Aberdonian has endured a tough season and tees off at the Dunhill Links today looking for a big week.
The Scot is 127th in the Race to Dubai rankings and with only the leading 110 golfers securing playing privileges on the flagship tour for next season is the stakes are high for Ramsay as the end of the season approaches.
Ramsay knows he has to find form and quickly as the pressure builds.
He said: “This is probably greater pressure than I’m used to. I’ve just not played as well as I should have played. I’ve not taken opportunities and I’ve just got to deal with where I’m at (in the rankings).
“I pretty much broke it down in detail to find out where the problems were. I feel that it’s mainly been from 10 feet in with my putting and also needing to hit my wedges a bit closer than I have been.
“You can get some much momentum from hitting a wedge close and knocking the putt in. That’s two shots straight away and the difference that makes over four rounds is big and is massive over the course of a season.
“I’ve been losing too many shots from 10-12 feet specifically this season, so I’ve been working hard on my green reading as I felt that’s where the problems were.
“It’s just a case of going out there and playing good golf over the next three weeks. I know what I have to do.”
Ramsay concedes 2018 has been an emotional rollercoaster but believes his work ethic will be rewarded in the remaining tournaments.
The 35 year-old, said: “My head has been spinning a little bit, to be honest. It’s been a busy year off the course and I’ve also had a few health issues here and there that have knocked me sideways.
“That plays with your mind and I don’t think my mind has been as clear as it could have been this year.
“There are times when I’ve thought to myself this year, ‘am I doing the right things?’ But I’m definitely still working as hard as I have ever done. I don’t feel like I have backed off in that respect.
“There have just been things here and there and it kind of snowballs out of control.”
A return to Scottish soil and the familiarity of St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie would be the perfect place for Ramsay to kickstart his campaign.
The Scot, who begins his event at Kingsbarns today, said: “I’ve just got to go out and play well this week, next week at Walton Heath then the week after that at Valderrama.
“If I can aim high, get in the mix here and even aim for a win, then hopefully I can have a good result and then suddenly my situation flips on its head. Dubai and all those sorts of things could then come into the equation.
“Having been there and done it in this event definitely gives me a bit of confidence.
“Patience is massive for any golfer and I’m no different. When you are not playing so well, even more so. That’s probably one thing that has surprised me.
“I feel I have stayed patient and have just been waiting on that spell where I have a few weeks where I play well, but it hasn’t come yet. Hopefully that’s still to come over the next three week and, if so, it will be perfect timing.
“These three courses should play to my strength. It’s a case of me going out and doing it. I have no option other than to play well. I just try to execute things.”