Jamie Spence put in arguably his best ever display to keep his hopes of staying on the European Tour card alive.

Knowing anything other than a top draw finish at the Mallorca Classic would have lost him his place on the tour, Jamie got himself off the hook by tieing for third place.

To be absolutely certain of starting on the magic roundabout for a 15th consecutive season in the New Year Jamie must make the cut in the final event currently being played in Madrid.

Even if he doesn't qualify for the last two rounds the chances are that he will have survived after that gutsy display of character in Mallorca when earnings of £15,000 lifted him towards the safety of 110th place in the Order of Merit.

Before teeing-up in Madrid Jamie said: "I think I'm safe. You know me, I'm a gambling man. I'll give you 80-1 against me not retaining my card. I think the line will be drawn at 117.

"It will need an extraordinary turn of events for me to miss out. It looks now as though a couple of players round about the same place as me will come out which would improve my situation but I think I'm okay."

Jamie's world looks pretty good at the moment. Another year in prospect among the elite and Arsenal top of the Premiership. The twin sporting passions of The Nevill maestro are earning a good living at the thing he does best and following his favourite team. He used to have a share in a racehorse with fellow Tour player Roger Chapman but these days life revolves around working and continuing to be a family man as much an intensive travelling schedule allows.

Just when a major effort was required to pull clear of others on the danger mark Jamie might easily have won in Mallorca to put a totally different complexion on an indifferent season. Signs of a late spurt came in the Dutch Open just before Mallorca when his six under par total gave him a share of 18th and £7,395. He was only three strokes off the winner but the position left him hanging on the brink of returning to the Tour school in 121st spot and six away from the chop line.

"I played well in Mallorca and could have won," he added. "I had a lovely 66 in the second round. I had to be a bit protective in the last half dozen holes as I knew I had to finish no worse than sixth on my own to be in the money. In those circumstances I couldn't go for the win and the finish there is pretty tough."

Because of bad weather one round was scrubbed and Jamie finished four under after shooting 71, 66 and 69, leaving him two behind winner Miguel Angel Jimenez and one off Jose Maria Olazabel. Gary Emerson made 206 alongside Jamie and the Nevill man's total winnings this season took him up 11 places with £112,173 earned.

If there were any doubts as to the calibre of Spence's mental toughness these must have been dispelled by his performance in Mallorca. He was never in doubt that his game had sharpened over the last few weeks although the velvet putting touch seemed to be missing and his work with the more lofted irons tended to fall below expectations.

Very much a fatalist, Jamie shrugged off fears before Mallorca. "If I don't make it I would go to the Tour school. That's pro golf, it's what I do. It wouldn't be the end of the world."

At 40, Jamie has won nearly £2.5m and knows what it is to come through the hard way after five attempts before gaining his card. Let's hope he gets the breaks in Madrid and continues his hot streak. Having battled his way out of the mire it would be devastating for it all to go pear-shaped now.