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Aaron Baddeley has lost his automatic playing rights after a decade in America but he is clinging to the hope that he can play his way back on to the United States PGA Tour.
Playing in the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi over the weekend on past champion's status, the Melburnian had a great week, closing with 67 and 68 in the final two rounds to log a top-10 finish.
The smooth-putting Baddeley contended throughout the final round of the rain-interrupted tournament at Jackson Country Club, probably losing his chance on the 17th green where a long birdie putt lipped out. Ultimately he finished tied-fourth behind the winner, Peter Malnati.
A win would have given Baddeley his playing rights for the rest of the 2015-16 season on the main tour. The top-10 finish is likely to give him a start in Mexico this week so that he clings to a sliver of hope of remaining on the world's most lucrative tour. Otherwise, he will need to drift back to the web.com Tour in 2016.
"I think I only missed three fairways and two greens,'' said the two-time Australian Open champion. "It was just a solid day really. I hit a great putt there on 17 that didn't quite go in. It was the two shots on the par-fives. If I'd capitalised on those two good tee shots it would've made a difference.''
The 34-year-old has played 13 consecutive years on the US Tour, with three wins.
Remarkably, he lost his playing rights after the 2015 season despite being the No. 1 ranked putter on the tour.