RICHARD McEvoy begins his make-or-break bid to retain his European Tour card this weekend in confident mood.

The 36-year-old knows only too well how to come through Qualifying School having done it several times in the past.

And he will draw on those experiences as he looks to finish in the top 25 at the PGA Cataluya Resort in Spain.

“It’s always one of the weeks where I feel confident,” he said.

“I do like the course. I have done well on it over the years and I’ve got good memories of it.

“That doesn’t always mean you do well, but it does help.”

McEvoy, a professional at Southend’s Thorpe Hall club, has got through Qualifying School “at least four times”.

He won the event in 2003, before the tournament was moved to the PGA Catalunya, and has qualified three times, including last year, on the current course which is near Barcelona.

Despite that success, McEvoy says he has never turned up for Qualifying School in better form.

“I’ve probably played my best golf since turning pro this year,” he said.

“I should really have retained my Tour Card before now but I have not done well enough when I’ve had the chance.

“I just missed out on that one big finish that would have given me the chunk of money needed to have finished in the top 110 places.

“Overall though I put myself in contention on five or six times this past year without ever finishing it off. But it’s been great to have been up there on so many occasions.”

One of those occasions was on McEvoy’s last tournament of the regular European Tour season in Hong Kong last month.

He had a superb tournament at the Fanling club and, but for two expensive holes, he would have finished third overall.

“I was chasing birdies and pushed it too far,” said McEvoy. “But for a triple bogey on the 11th and a double bogey on the 18th in the final round, I would have been third.

“That’s the difference though. One shot can make all the difference between being in the top 60 and having to go to Qualifying School.”

The top 25 players after six rounds at the PGA Catalunya will get their Tour Cards for next season.

The tournament is played over two courses with a cut being made after two rounds played on each. The last two days are played on the championship course.

“It’s a tough process but it’s fair,” said McEvoy.

“I’m going there with my game in good shape and a positive attitude so hopefully it will work out.”