Dredge needs to dig deep

Dredge: world number 72

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Welshman Bradley Dredge will tee it up at this week's Madeira Island Open knowing victory should secure his place at Augusta.

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Dredge - who shot a 60 on his way to winning this event five years ago - is currently 72nd in the world and is the highest-ranked player competing at Santo da Serra.

Victory on Sunday would secure the 24 world ranking points he needs to move into the world's top 50. He would then need to keep his top 50 place at the end of next week's Andalucia Open to clinch his place at the season's first major.

"I've been practising really hard over the last two weeks so I'm hopeful of playing really well this week and next week in order to earn my start in the Masters," Dredge told Reuters.

"Playing in the Masters is such an achievement. Playing at Augusta is just an amazing experience and I hope to do it again this year."

Dredge narrowly missed out on a place in this week's World Golf Championship tournament in Florida - where there are a lot more ranking points to play for - and he admitted: "Missing out on the WGC at Doral was a real shame.

"I'm feeling quite confident about my game. I have a very positive attitude at the moment."