Jamie Spence must qualify if he wants to compete on the European Tour next year.

He needed a big finish in the Madrid Open last week to cheat the executioner's axe because he lay 120th in the rankings, fractionally below the crucial mark of 115 players automatically assured of a place next year.

The Nevill globetrotter just missed out to end an unbroken run of 15 years of playing the European Tour.

He was 30th and finished 121st in the order of merit and is now bracing himself for a mind-numbing ordeal.

A five under par 66 in his second round in Madrid left him only five strokes off the lead to raise hopes of avoiding the six-round lottery at San Roque starting on November 11.

The 41-year-old tournament committee chairman sounded upbeat at the time. "I'm under the cosh but I want to play next year in my own right."

While Spence could rely on possibly a dozen invitations in 2005, he prefers to slug it out in the bear pit of the qualifying school.

But his game needs a sudden return to the form that saw him win the European Masters 12 years ago.

His verdict on this year was brief and to the point.

"I played well in Madrid but all season I never had a decent finish.

"My best placing was ninth in Madeira when I led after two rounds. It didn't help when high winds delayed play and the last 36 holes had to be played on the Sunday and my chance of winning disappeared."

What has gone wrong with Spence's golf?

He said: "I haven't putted well and my short irons, pitching and chipping have let me down.

"I haven't settled on a set of irons all season and been unable to find a happy mix.

"Whenever I've played back home in pro-ams my game has been very good but that hasn't been the case on the Tour."

San Roque is new territory for Spence.

He is there in good company with other old hands like ex-Ryder Cup player Peter Baker, Roger Chapman and Gary Orr.

They are all in the same boat with the up-and-coming thrusters from all over the world.

Spence had a close shave last year when he only reached the safety margin in the last two events. He added: "I am perfectly fit. I am not in the physio's wagon every week and I attend fitness classes each Monday when I am home.

"It is nothing to do with being out of condition. The answer lies in my golf game."

Spence was the 1984 Sussex Amateur champion and went on to win the county open title the following year before turning professional. He has won around £2.5m.

He knows what it is to come through the hard way after five attempts at gaining his card.

But he is a realist and knows the test confronting him shortly promises to be the sternest of his career.