MICHAEL Watson is eyeing another European Tour.

Two years ago the Wessex Golf Centre pro won the PGA Play-Offs and enjoyed a fantastic 2010 season rubbing shoulders with Europe’s elite.

Now he has given himself another chance of qualifying for those major events after finishing second in the inaugural Race to Woodbury Park Order of Merit.

Watson clinched his place after a closing best-of-the-day eight-under-par 64, including 10 birdies, in the final Race to Woodbury Park event, in association with Johnnie Walker, at the West Region’s new headquarters at the East Devon hotel and golf complex.

He shared second with Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton) and both men will now compete in the Titleist Play-Offs in Turkey in November.

Welshman Matt Dearden achieved the biggest win of his career to resist Watson’s challenge and take top spot.

Jon Bevan, Watson’s colleague at Wessex Golf Centre and the Marston’s Beer Company PGA West Region champion, was always in contention. But he had to settle for a share of fourth.

Watson said: “I have played pretty well all year but, until recently, hadn’t been finishing the job off as well as I did in the first half of the season.

“I have been hitting the ball so well off the tee that it was only a matter of time for the putts to drop.

“Having won the play-offs before I know it’s going to be a great trip to Turkey to play on the type of course where I should play well.”

Following his second-place finish, Watson recorded his second round of eight-under-par in successive days to win the Race to Woodbury Park Pro-Am by one shot from a group of five others.

It was his 10th win of a marvellous season.

This time the 41-year-old West Region captain’s score was 65 – the long opening hole became a par five for the day.

He made an eagle at the 14th and six birdies. Bevan meanwhile, shared second on 66.

West PGA Race to Woodbury Park (at Woodbury): 133 Matthew Dearden (Vale Hotel) 68 65 £2,000 136 Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) 72 64, Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton) 67, 69, £1,042 each, 137 Jon Bevan (Wessex Golf Centre) 69, 68, Jack Stevenson (St Mellion) 67 70, £554 each.

* Ashley Wood Seniors went down to a 5-1 defeat against their Dudsbury counterparts.

Ashley’s winning pair were John Buckeridge and Grahame Webb with the latter giving his rivals a good laugh by driving his trolley and all his clubs into the lake.