Gary Evans, Worthing's most famous golfing son, is assured of his place on the magic roundabout next year.

The PGA European Tour cut off mark for Gary loomed large until he made equal 20th spot with Colin Montgomerie in the Smurfit European Open at The K Club in July.

Then, and only then, Gary knew he could take his foot off the pedal as a tenth season starting in January was practically secured.

That midsummer high placing in Ireland when he picked-up £23,266 taking him to 78th in the Volvo Order of Merit meant there was no chance of his total earnings dipping below the amount required to maintain his place among the elite.

Now he is 62nd with £180,938 in the bag and the worry lines have disappeared. While he has never won a tournament at this level, to stay on is another kind of victory. And a significant one at that. Gary, and those who trail in the wake of the major stars, all aspire to greatness.

Many have the game to reach the top. But it is the mental pressure that can grind them down and reduce to despair some of the best shot-makers in golf.

Some take to the bottle. Some turn into zombies shuffling the fairways in a daze until the axe falls with dreadful finality.

How has Evans managed to survive and cast the demons of self doubt aside?

"I have achieved peace of mind and that is due to the backing of my sponsors. They have taken the pressure off me and not just the pressure on the course but everyday pressures like finding the mortgage.

"The last couple of years have allowed me to adopt a more stable frame of mind. I'm no longer on a roller coaster as my sponsors have stayed with me. I've been with Hugo Boss ten years and Realize have backed me for the last three. Having said that, I owe a great deal to Ewen Murray for helping me with my game. It's handy for me as I live in Rustington and Ewen is at West Chiltington.

"The aspect of my game that has improved the most is driving. My putting is still the same as ever but it is with the driver that I've seen the greatest improvement and that goes for my long game generally."

Recently Gary changed from Callaway to Taylor Made and in August took a £42,466 slice of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship by making fourth place. It was the biggest cheque of his career.

Usually Gary warms-up with early Tour events in Australia and Malaysia. He kicked-off by making four cuts in the first five events and, in April, took second spot in the Moroccan Open.

He equalled the course record of 66 in his second round and this was the closest he has been to winning.

Nine years ago Gary's name was freely bandied about as one to watch after being runner-up in the Turespana Masters following a glittering amateur career under Worthing's banner.

Since then more than one willing helper has hefted Gary's bag. Since June last year Dominic Bott, a Yorkshireman, has accompanied Gary on tour offering support and words of wisdom. What does he think of the difference in Gary's approach?

"There is no doubt he is far more relaxed and, in consequence, has played a lot of good golf. I put that down to a great mental attitude."

At 32 Gary has branched out into forming his own company, Tour Pro Golf Classics specialising in corporate golf days. Business, he reports, is good with a schedule of between 12-15 bookings a year. The kids are at school, he and Sam remain the ideal couple and all is well with the world.

He's come a long way since a persistent wrist injury necessitated soft tissue reconstruction surgery in 1994. Age is no barrier in golf, as Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance proved in the Cisco World Matchplay at Wentworth. You might say that a thirty-some thing like Gary Evans is just starting to come into his own.