Pablo Larrazábal vowed to work hard to get back in the winner's circle after finishing in a tie for second at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The Spaniard is entering his tenth season on the European Tour and has developed into one of its most consistent performers, claiming four titles including here at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in 2014.
There was nothing consistent about his final round 68 in the desert, with just six pars on the card as he kept fighting back to challenge eventual winner Tommy Fleetwood.
A stunning chip-in on the 14th had him in a share of the lead but when he rolled in a 20-foot birdie on the 17th, he needed an eagle on the par five last to get into a play-off.
The 18th reflected his day as a whole and after taking two free drops, he could not hole his pitch, although a birdie did see him claim his best finish since his last victory at the BMW International Open in 2015.
The result continued his good start to the season after a tie for eighth at the UBS Hong Kong Open, and he is now hopeful he can go on to even greater things.
"I gave it my best," he said. "I never gave up and obviously I didn't play my best but I tried my best.
We've been working very hard and we're going to keep working the same way to keep pushing in tournaments like this - Pablo Larrazábal
"Holing some putts, holing the chip-in on 14, I tried to stay with the pace but three bogeys on Sunday afternoon is too many.
"The three-putt on six killed me a little bit but I'm very proud of the way I played. It was very fun, I had a lot of fun.
"The only thing I have to do is keep working hard, keep working the same way we've been working during the winter and this week and try to make sure I do my best next week.
"We've been working very hard and we're going to keep working the same way to keep pushing in tournaments like this."
