A West Country golfer is bidding to be crowned the PGA's No1 player - before embarking on his bid for European Senior Tour glory.
Bristol-based George Ryall begins his two-pronged quest this month having seen his game reach new heights this season.
Ryall, who turned 50 last month allowing him to go for his European Seniors Tour card at the end of the year, heads to Royal Liverpool, seeking victory in the Srixon PGA Play-Offs.
Only 21 players, the top three from each of the PGA's seven regions, will descend on the famous links venue for the £15,000 36-hole tournament over October 21 and 22 - all of them trying to secure spots in four of the European Tour's biggest tournaments.
Ryall goes there as the West Region's number one and assured of a place in next year's BMW PGA Championship after landing the Order of Merit title for the first time in his career.
Cirencester's Ed Goodwin and Lee Thompson of Dudsbury Golf Club, Dorset, completed the top three - but either could clinch the remaining spot on offer for the European Tour's flagship event along with a place in four other tournaments including the Barclays Scottish Open and Celtic Manor Wales Open.
The Players Club pro, who will be the oldest man in the field, is ready to add to his silverware collection - and open the door to the prospect of taking on the elite of the European Tour.
"I would love to have a chance of being in the mix to be the PGA player of the year," said Ryall.
"I'm aware of what you can gain from it, but I'm looking at it from that perspective. The way I've tended to play the last few years is to play what's in front of you and see what doors open up from there."
That philosophy has served Ryall well over the past two seasons as he has come to the fore, both in the 2007 PGA Cup where he won four points out of four, and this season.
His game has elevated to new heights, this is a despite a niggling back problem that requires regular physio from his neighbour Mike Young, who has also worked with the England Rugby team. Young's reward is to be Ryall's bag man at Seniors Tour School in November.
But while young has played a key role in keeping Ryall in condition to play, the Bristol-based pro attributes his success to the fact that he has been honing his competitive edge in readiness for his bid to join the European Seniors Tour, of which the PGA Play-Offs will play a key part of his preparations.
"I've been trying to build myself up to go for my seniors' tour card so I've been trying to keep myself competitive," he said.
"The last two or three years I have had this focus and now it's getting closer and closer. I have that goal and along the way I have achieved other goals, including winning the Order of Merit this year.
"I was essentially just trying to keep competitive tournament by tournament, but I think because I have a focus that I have just played better.
"Playing in the PGA Cup last year, which is competing at the highest level as a PGA professional, gave me a lot of confidence, which I have carried into this season."
16 October, 2008