A BAD week with the putter was the sole reason behind Jeremy Robinson's failure to retain his Tour Card.

The Evesham golfer finished tied 65th at Qualifying School in Spain, six shots off a top 35 position after six punishing rounds at San Roque and Sotogrande.

"I struggled on the first day but putted well but after that I didn't really hole anything," the 34-year-old recalled.

Four birdies, however, during the last five holes of his penultimate round lifted him to within two shots of qualification but a final round of 76 blew his chances.

"I felt I needed a 70 at San Roque on the last day but I three-putted the first which didn't help.

"Conditions were good and I had good chances at eight of the next dozen holes to pick up shots but it just didn't happen," he lamented.

Robinson revealed that he actually three-putted at least seven times during his 108-hole marathon - figures that explain the reason for his failure.

However, the Evesham player will still be involved on the 2001 European Tour schedule.

"I fancy that I will get in between 12 and 20 events. Players with my ranking last season got in 16 tournaments," Robinson declared.

"There will be some last minute invites but I have a vague idea of what I will be playing in and will have a better idea when the entries close."

Robinson will be back on the course abroad on January 15 when he plays in a Pro-Am in Barbados.

His first competitive appearance could be in either Singapore or Malaysia in the middle of February.