IT'S getting desperate for Jeremy Robinson if he is to retain his European Tour card.

The Evesham golfer overcame back niggles prior to and during the Canon European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre to finish tied 70th after scraping through Friday's cut.

The 34-year-old's card - especially over the final two days - illustrated the inconsistency that has dogged him throughout 2000.

Four birdies but a handful of bogeys on both days left Robinson five-over-par for the tournament staged at the picturesque Swiss Alps course.

"I did well to make the cut,"Robinson recalled. "My back was still giving me problems for the first two days and I didn't play very well. Even when it settled down I just didn't perform well at all."

Robinson has four - possibly five - events left to pick up around £25,000. It's going to be a tall order and he knows it.

"I am not doing myself any favours by finishing near the bottom of the prize money," he said. "I have got to start to go into tournaments not thinking about whether I am going to make the cut or not.

"I just need a proper finishing position and it's either going to happen or it won't."

Robinson's round on Sunday reflected his current plight. After reaching the turn one under for the day and three-under for the tournament, he bagged bogeys at three successive holes only to hit back with birdies at two of the last four before a fifth bogey on the par three eighth.

Robinson plays in the Trophee Lancome in Paris this weekend, where he has twice made the cut, before ending a tortuous season with the Belgacom, Madrid and Italian Opens.

There is also a chance he may get an invitation to play in the Linde German Masters and he will need every opportunity he can muster if he is to avoid a trip to the Tour School in November.