Eddie Pepperell set his sights higher than just retaining his playing privileges after firing a brilliant opening 64 on day one of the Portugal Masters.
The Englishman had finished 49th on the Race to Dubai the past two seasons but arrived at Victoria Clube de Golfe holding the 110th spot to keep hold of his card for the 2016 campaign.
Top ten finishes at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation laid the foundations for another potentially fruitful season but a run of six missed cuts leading into last week's British Masters supported by Sky Sports saw Pepperell fall down the standings.
A tie for 22nd at The Grove proved to be a confidence booster and some brilliant iron play just after the turn on Thursday led to six shots being gained in five holes to sit just a shot off the lead in Vilamoura.
That sort of quality has helped gain the 25 year old a reputation as one of the finest young prospects on the European Tour and he is confident he is not far away from that elusive first win.
"If I miss the cut this week and bad things happen - I feel like it wouldn't be a career-defining moment for me whether I lost my card or keep my card," he said.
"For me it's getting in the frame of mind, the way I feel like I'm swinging it, I want to go out and win this golf tournament.
"I want to get to Dubai. I've played those events the last two years, so that's got to be my focus the way I'm playing. If I play well enough, I feel like I give myself a shot at winning and that's all I can do. Whether I'm 120 on the list or ten, I feel like if I play well, I can win. I've just got to make that happen.
"There's relief just to be playing decent golf and actually enjoying it. I've been very frustrated with the game because I've been playing so poorly and I think any of us out here would tell you that.
Whether I'm 120 on the list or ten, I feel like if I play well, I can win. I've just got to make that happen - Eddie Pepperell
"I didn't realise just how much of an effect playing poorly would have on my mood, not just on the golf course but at home as well.
"I felt like for my quality of life to improve, I had to turn it around on the course."
Mikko Korhonen is alongside Pepperell at seven under and needs to finish in the top 26 this week to have any chance of keeping hold of his card.
He retained his playing rights via the Race to Dubai for the first time last season after four successful trips to the Final Qualifying School, and is philosophical about this week.
"I try to take it one day at a time and just go out and play my best every day," he said. "Just trying to keep up what I'm doing.
"I hit the ball pretty solid all day. Holed a few putts. That's pretty much it. I didn't make many mistakes. A couple of three-putts, but that was it."
