Paul Dunne has a €15,742 cushion between him and the man holding on to 111th in the Race to Dubai and the man holding the last European Tour card. His job looks safe but he’ll want to make the cut in the Portugal Masters and finish his rookie season with a flourish to avoid any late accidents.

It would take an unfortunate series of mishaps for the Greystones man to miss out on his card now as he’s 102nd in the money list with the top 111 players keeping their cards rather than 110 as  David Lingmerth’s affiliate membership effectively removes the Swede from the rankings.

England’s Eddie Pepperell sits in the hot seat at 111th and if he misses the cut, Jason Scrivener, would need to finish at least 52nd place or better in order to leapfrog the Englishman and so avoid a return trip to the Qualifying School Final Stage, where he earned his card last year.

The Australian would have to finish solo 20th or better to beat Dunne's €260,793 tally. 

World No 18 Alex Noren, who won for the third time this season at the British Masters, will be eyeing win No 4 as he heads the field from Ryder Cup players Thomas Pieters and Andy Sullivan with Pádraig Harrington another of the leading players in the field.

We caught up with Paul Dunne earlier this season for a Quick 9. 

A quick nine with Paul Dunne

1 What’s the favourite club in your bag?

Probably my putter, probably because I have had it so long. it is a Scotty Cameron GoLow,  the first centre-shafted one they brought out. It’s been there since the 2012 North of Ireland.

2 What’s your favourite Irish course?

Royal Portrush.

3. What is the strongest part of your game?

I’d back myself as a mid-range putter against most people. And of course, the strength of my game over the past few years has been my wedge game

4 And your favourite outside Ireland?

Eugene Country Club in Oregon. 

5 Who is the best player you have ever played with?

Louis Oosthuizen (in the 2015 Open Championship.).

6 Which major would you most like to win?

The Open

7 Who is your favourite golfer?

Tiger Woods

8 Name your dream fourball

Tiger, Ryan Giggs and Alex Ferguson.

9 Books or movies?

Not books. I do not read. I watch a lot to TV series though. Right now I am halfway through series eight of The Office. Entourage is my favourite. I loved Homeland too.

Race to Dubai — How they stand

101 JIMENEZ Miguel Angel ESP 13 263,138 NOT PLAYING
102 DUNNE Paul  IRL 23 260,793  
103 EDBERG Pelle  SWE 29 259,936
104 DE LA RIVA Eduardo  ESP 24  255,218
105 FRITSCH Florian GER 11 254,876
106 HANSON Chris  ENG 21 248,654
107 JAMIESON Scott SCO 28 248,626
108 HOWELL David  ENG 21 247,747
109 IM Daniel USA 25 246,955
110 LEE Craig  SCO 27 246,077
111 PEPPERELL Eddie ENG 22 245,051

----------Last card----------

112 LOMBARD Zander  RSA 12 243,963 NOT PLAYING
113 PETERSON Paul USA 17 237,098  NOT PLAYING
114 SCRIVENER Jason  AUS 24 236,881
115 FISHER Oliver ENG 29 232,692
116 STORM Graeme ENG  27 226,847
117 KORHONEN Mikko FIN 22 224,984
118 WINTHER Jeff  DEN 26 224,702
119 DINWIDDIE Robert ENG  26 222,692
120 EVANS Ben ENG 29 221,961
121 GREEN Richard AUS 20 218,283
122 UIHLEIN Peter  USA 14 207,812 NOT PLAYING
123 RUMFORD Brett  AUS 25 201,627
 

Portugal Masters prize fund

1 €333,330
2 €222,220
3 €125,200
4 €100,000
5 €84,800  
6 €70,000  
7 €60,000  
8 €50,000  
9 €44,800
10 €40,000  
11 €36,800  
12 €34,400  
13 €32,200  
14 €30,600
15 €29,400  
16 €28,200
17 €27,000  
18 €25,800  
19 €24,800  
20 €24,000  
21 €23,200  
22 €22,600  
23 €22,000  
24 €21,400  
25 €20,800
26 €20,200  
27 €19,600  
28 €19,000  
29 €18,400  
30 €17,800  
31 €17,200  
32 €16,600  
33 €16,000  
34 €15,400  
35 €15,000  
36 €14,600  
37 €14,200
38 €13,800  
39 €13,400  
40 €13,000  
41 €12,600  
42 €12,200  
43 €11,800  
44 €11,400  
45 €11,000  
46 €10,600  
47 €10,200  
48 €9,800  
49 €9,400  
50 €9,000  
51 €8,600  
52 €8,200  
53 €7,800  
54 €7,400  
55 €7,000
56 €6,600  
57 €6,200  
58 €6,000
59 €5,800
60 €5,600
61 €5,400
62 €5,200
63 €5,000
64 €4,800
65 €4,600
66 €4,400
67 €4,200
68 €4,000
69 €3,800
70 €3,650