It is very much the ‘Last Chance Saloon’ for the Australian threesome of Jason Schrivener, Richard Green and Brett Rumford teeing up in this week’s Portugal Masters at Vilamoura on the Portuguese sun-splashed Algarve.
The Portugal Masters is the last ‘regular’ event on the European Tour schedule and all four are outside the cut-off point of 110th on the Race to Dubai money list.
The three need to first make the cut in the Euro 3m event and then be inside the top-110 on the money list to be assured of earning automatic 2017 European Tour membership.
The 27-year old Mandarah Golf Club attached Schrivener is competing in his second full season on the European Tour but after falling short a year ago in finishing 117th on the money list, Schrivener gained his 2016 card by finishing seventh at the Tour’s Q-School at the end of 2015.
Two young fans enjoy a snap with Australia’s Jason Scrivener at the recent Italian Open.
Schrivener is currently lying 113th on the money list and an agonising Euro 8,170 adrift of 110th place currently held by England’s Eddie Pepperell.
It had been a good start to the new season for Schrivener who made the cut 10 of his opening 11 events of 2016 but has only played all four round on three occasions in his next dozen tournaments.
Green is a former Portugal Masters champion having won the event in 2010, and also capturing still the third of three European Tour titles.
However the now 45-year old is staring at losing his card for the first time in 20 years since joining the European Tour for a first time in 1996 when he ended his maiden season 45th on the then Order of Merit.
Happier days for Richard Green as winner of the 2010 Portugal Masters.
Green celebrated 20 years in Europe recently breaking through the Euro 10m earnings barrier in finishing T13th in the recent Porsche European Open.
But being a former Portugal Masters will mean nothing when Green tees up on the Arnold Palmer designed Oceanico Victoria course and the first course designed by Palmer to host a tournament since ‘The King’ passed away last month.
Green is 120th on the Race to Dubai money list Euro 26,768 adrift of Pepperell.
Though if Green not finish his season inside the top-110 there could be the option of drawing on the fact he’s inside the top-40 on the all-time European Tour career earnings standing that would ensure he retain automatic 2017 Tour membership and when the list is adjusted to take into account Green’s earnings this year he would move albeit one place to 38th and that one place could mean the difference come Sunday night.
Australia’s Brett Rumford brilliantly eagles the last to secure victory in the 2013 Ballantine’s Championship. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
Proud Perth-born Rumford has struggled since missing much of the 2015 and wrecked when the five-time European Tour had to have a 30cm portion of his small intestine removed after eating an apple while competing in the Tshwane Open.
Like fellow West Australian-born Schriver, Rumford got his new season off to a bright start making the cut in eight of his opening nine events but it all turn pear-shaped for the 39-year old in making the cut in just three of a dozen events and including the cut in past three tournaments.
So while most eyes will be on the very in-form Alex Noren, who is looking to win a fourth European Tour event in his 10th start, spare a thought for three Aussies looking to first make the Portugal Masters cut but then to muscle their way into the top-110 to be assured of full European Tour playing rights in 2017.
