Portugal Masters - The Last Chance Saloon

THE Portugal Masters represents the last-chance saloon for a number of players, who will head to Vilamoura under far greater pressure than those who have already pocketed hundreds of thousands of euros.

There are some very surprising names struggling to maintain their playing privileges. The magical number is 110 - anybody who finishes outside the top 110 in the order of merit will be heading for the Challenge Tour unless they have a tour win to their name in the past two years.

Oliver Wilson won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2014 so will be requiring a dramatic recovery after languishing this week in 174th place, but he has achieved unexpected things before, and will need to so again if he is to continue plying his trade on the European Tour.

Incredibly, Eddie Pepperell, one of the brightest prospects on tour, goes to Portugal in 111th place. Pepperell is a hugely talented player who has been tipped by many to become a future Ryder Cup player, but his 2015-16 season has been a nightmare, missing 11 cuts. He finished in 22nd place at the British Masters but it wasn't quite enough to get him inside the number. He probably only needs to make the cut in Portugal to be safe. For sure, he will look back on this season as a massive wake-up call, and it would be a big surprise if he ever finds himself in this position again.

The men hanging on to the final three places are David Howell (108), Daniel Im (109) and Craig Lee (110). Lee has been here before but continues to chase the dream. Again, he will tee it up on Thursday praying that he makes the cut and that none of the men behind him choose this week to rediscover their form.

Men like Graeme Storm, fighting again to keep his place on tour. One big finish saved his season in 2015 and he finds himself in 116th place ahead of Portugal. For Storm, it is do or die. Imagine the pressure he will feel in the days leading up to the tournament. And then the tournament begins. An early double-bogey will see him thinking, fearing  and feeling the worst. It is difficult to truly understand what his mindset will be with his entire playing career on the line. But at least he still has a chance.

Spare a thought for Edouard Espana, of France. He has played in 25 tournaments and earned just 14,000 euros and has made just two cuts. When you consider how much travel, hotel and caddies' fees have cost him, it means that Espana has actually paid out a small fortune to play on the European Tour.

You will be surprised by some of the names who have no hope of making the top 110 -  Stephen Gallacher (129), Alvaro Quiros (135th), Niclas Fasth (137), YE Yang (138), JBe Kruger (140), Paul Lawrie (141) and Thomas Bjorn (152).

Yes, dreams can come true on the European Tour, but don't ever run away with the idea that a Tour card is a passport to guaranteed riches. Just ask Edouard Espana.