Matt Blackey intends taking only the positives out of the most turbulent tournament of his golfing career.

The way Blackey plunged from two-shot leader 12 holes into the third round of the British Masters to 36th in the final placings might have had a traumatic effect on some golfers, but not the 32-year-old Southampton player.

"I prefer to look on the positive side of things," said the former Hampshire Amateur and Open champion. "I was in contention until the last round and that's the best I've done in a big tournament.

"What happened on the last day was not nice. As one of the late starters I got the worst of the weather when the wind sprung up. Unfortunately I dropped a few early shots, started to get anxious and began to fret about what it was going to do to my final position.

"It was the wrong way to handle the situation. I got too far ahead of myself instead of taking it hole by hole. It was a painful lesson learned."

Blackey's six-over 78 in the last round plunged him from eight under to two under and cost him more than £60,000.

That amount would virtually have secured his card for next year but, as things stand going into this week's Scottish PGA Championship, Blackey has earned over £70,000 and is past halfway towards securing his playing rights for 2004.

He's made the cuts at high-quality home events like the Benson & Hedges and Volvo PGA Championships, and last year's third finisher on the Challenge Tour points out: "I'm improving as a player. There's still half the season left and I'm confident I can go on and keep my card.

"It just would have been nice to do it last week at the Forest of Arden where I played some of the best golf of my life. That was the big plus and that's what I've got to take out of it."