Jonathan Thomson believes a European Tour win could be just around the corner after he lost out in a play-off at the Made in Denmark.
The Englishman graduated from the Qualifying School to earn his rookie season in 2018 but by his own admission had a poor start to life on Tour before making four of his last five cuts coming into the week at Silkeborg Ry Golf Club.
An opening 64 on Thursday ensured the cut would not be a problem in Scandinavia and he made it into the four-man play-off on Sunday afternoon before a par on the first extra hole saw him eliminated.
The tie for second moved him up to 152nd on the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex as he tries to keep his playing privileges but the six foot nine 22 year old - who overcame a five-year battle with Leukemia as a child - is aiming higher than the top 110.
“This is a massive step forward for me,” he said. “I'm getting a pretty big move up the Rankings. If I keep some form like this, there's nothing to say that the win is not around the corner.
“I played some great golf, especially coming down the stretch where the pressure's on and I know what I've got to do.
“For me, from where I have been from the start of the year to now, it's just phenomenal. So I'm just so happy with the week and how I've played.”
Countryman Steven Brown made a birdie on the first extra hole to head back up the 18th with Matt Wallace but a par on the second trip down the last was not enough to stop Wallace winning a third title of the season.
Brown moved inside the top 110 with his finish and was delighted with the best week of his European Tour career so far.
“I would have definitely taken it at the beginning of the week, getting in a play-off like that,” he said. “Fair play to Matt, he won it. I couldn't have done much more and I'm really happy for him.
“I didn't really feel like I had my best stuff coming in here so to somehow be able to almost win the tournament like that was very pleasing.
“Hopefully I can carry that on for the rest of the year where there are some big tournaments.”
Lee Westwood was the fourth man in the play-off as he teed it up for the first time at the Made in Denmark.
The former World Number One has seen it all before en route to his 23 European Tour wins but he could not help but get caught up in the unique atmosphere with girlfriend Helen on the bag.
“It's been a great week,” he said. “I've enjoyed it thoroughly, it was all good. I played lovely, hit a lot of good shots and was a bit unlucky in the play-off.
“We had great fun out there, it's been brilliant. It's lovely to have your girlfriend on the bag and the week was really light-hearted and I was doing all my own yardages. Just fun from start to finish.”
