WORCESTERSHIRE'S Jeremy Robinson was today hoping to avoid the agonies of the past two seasons in the Italian Open at Is Molas.

The former Walker Cup golfer from Evesham carded a first-round 66 in Sardinia to lie just one shot off the lead held by Sam Torrance, Eamonn Darcy, Van Phillips and France's Benoit Teilleria.

It was the perfect start for the 34-year-old in his battle to retain his playing card for next season, the third year running he has faced a nerve-wracking battle to stay on the European Tour. In 1998 he defied medical advice to continue playing in the qualifying school, using a three-iron as a walking stick he birdied the last hole to win his card.

And 12 months ago he finished 115th on the Order of Merit to scrape in by the skin of his teeth. The top 115 on the money list earn playing privileges for 2001.

Robinson, of course, is not the only one battling to keep their livelihood and joint leader Darcy also has a mountain to climb to achieve a similar goal this week.