Jamie Spence has vowed to bounce back despite losing his European Tour card.

Spence, 41, chairman of the tournament players' committee, quit after three of the six rounds of the final qualifying school having missed the cut by a mile at San Roque.

The Nevill standard bearer's scores of 77, 73 and 77 left him joint 162nd when only 39 cards were up for grabs.

It was the low point of a distinguished career for Spence.

But 48 hours later, he was upbeat and honest about a rotten season culminating in his departure from the Tour after 15 successive years in which he won over £2.5m.

He said: "At San Roque my game just wasn't with me. I probably knew that before I went down there.

"It has been a long year and I had reached the end of my endurance. Since the Open my sole focus was keeping my card but, at the end, there was just nothing there.

"Enough is enough. There are no excuses. I'm fully fit so I cannot blame that.

"One of the problems was with my clubs, particularly the irons. I haven't been comfortable with them all year.

"My pitching, chipping and putting has not been up to scratch. It is down to that really."

Spence has never been less than candid about his game, whether on or off form.

After finishing 121st in the rankings he was required to compete in the six-round qualifying lottery with spirits and the quality of his golf at a low ebb.

As one of 17 former Tour winners in the field he was in good company and must now look for invitations next season together with other past champions like Roger Chapman and Peter Baker. They also left the Costa del Sol empty handed.

The final qualifying is surely the hardest test in golf and while Spence and other big names failed there was great satisfaction for another 40-something. Ex-Ryder Cup player Philip Walton will return to the Tour after five years in the wilderness after making 17th spot.

Spence said: "None of us Tour regulars got anywhere near it and we are better than that. The Challenge Tour players there came a lot fresher than us as they have not competed in so many events.

"That is an observation, not an excuse, but now I'm going to spend more time with the family, play some five-a-side football, get down the gym and probably go away after Christmas and sort my game and clubs out.

"I shan't play any more golf for a few weeks and then it will be time to re-group. Make no mistake, I shall be back."

With more time on his hands early into the New Year, Spence will be able to see more of his beloved Arsenal. In prospect is a reduced schedule but his diary won't be empty before a return to the qualifying school in 2005.

He does not see coming off the European Tour prejudices his position as chairman of the decision makers. "I'll stay as long as they want me."

Another Sussex pro licking his wounds after the San Roque mauling is Ed Rush.

His hopes of securing a Tour place for the first time disappeared when he missed the cut by five strokes with a four-round total of 303.

Rush, who has an attachment to East Sussex National, started with a one over par 73 but was let down by a brace of 78s.