WITH the fire back in his belly after demoralising seasons on the European and Challenge Tours, Martin LeMesurier is targeting a return to Europe's elite - possibly via Asia.

Rewind to 2003 and the New Milton resident, enjoyed two wins on the Challenge Tour, earning a European Tour exemption for the following season.

However, the 31-year-old struggled in 2004 and lost his card after finishing 166th on the order of merit.

The next season he was back on the Challenge Tour, but his confidence and enthusiasm had been severely dented. Add in a shoulder injury and LeMesurier was in a rut.

"The intensity of the travelling - to Australia, Asia, South Africa - and the difficulty of the courses - their length and tightness - made it difficult," explained LeMesurier.

"You have no chance on the European Tour if you're not playing well and each week was draining my confidence.

"I missed six cuts by a single shot, got a bit down on myself and lost hope a bit.

"I played on the Challenge Tour in 2005 because I thought I should be but had lost my enthusiasm. In 2006 I felt better about the game but didn't play enough events, although I was in contention midway through the third round of a few tournaments."

Now mentally and physically recharged - and with a sponsor on board, LeMesurier is determined to rejoin golf's elite. He's keeping sharp by playing on the Europro Tour and has identified possible stepping stones back into the European Tour big league.

"The Europro season has been not too bad so far. I started off worse than mediocre scoring-wise because competitively I was a bit rusty. Then I had a good finish in Ireland (fourth at Faithlegg) and this gave me confidence to know that my game was close."

For full story see today's Daily Echo.