Luke Donald has an immediate opportunity to try and secure a victory at the Madrid Masters after narrowly missing out at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
One ahead with a round to go at St Andrews, the Englishman dropped to seventh with a 73.
The Ryder Cup star, whose last victory came more than three and a half years ago, had sparkled with a 65 on the Old Course only three days earlier and had followed that up with a 64 at Kingsbarns.
Donald is paired with former Ryder Cup partner Sergio Garcia on the first two days at Centro Nacional in the Spanish capital.
Also in the field is Scotland's ex-US Amateur champion Richie Ramsay, whose fourth place finish at the home of golf secured his European Tour card for next season.
It could have been even better - Ramsay three-putted from the Valley of Sin on the last hole when a par would have left him joint second with Rory McIlroy and Oliver Wilson.
But the Aberdeen golfer was determined to take the positives out of the week, especially as he was only in the field because of Paul Casey’s injury.
"I think you have to look at the whole package," he said. "I played great down the stretch and keeping my card is huge.
"I'm delighted - first year on Tour, it's a tough gig, but I'm confident that, if I go out there and show my potential, I can be up at the top of leaderboards.
"I've gone out there and not cared about the result. You have a putt and it's either going to go in or it's going to miss.
"If it doesn't, just hole the next one. I've been more relaxed and I finished right up there in a fantastic tournament.
"Any time you have your job secure for next year, it's a massive weight off your mind."
