BLACKWOOD’S Bradley Dredge is facing up to life away from the top tier of golf in Europe after losing his European Tour card yesterday.

The 39-year-old shot a one over par second round of 71 at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

That left him three over par following a two over round of 72 on Thursday and meant that he missed the cut by one shot.

The 39-year-old, a World Cup winner seven years ago and an ever-present in Europe’s top 100 since 1999 went into the tournament 121st in the Order of Merit and only the top 119 will retain their cards come Sunday night.

Having missed the cut Dredge has no chance to improve his position and will not play on the European Tour next year.

After his disappointing second round Dredge said: "I spent the whole afternoon in Hong Kong pondering my fate after I was only able to shoot a second round 71.

"When I finished my round with a strong wind swirling around the Hong Kong Golf Club (I thought) there was just a chance that I might make the cut.

"However, in mid afternoon the conditions got calmer and the cutline stayed at two over, which meant I could not climb up into the top 119 on the money list and have lost my Tour card.

"It is not a total surprise to me since I have not been playing good golf for the last four years but now I don’t know what the future holds for me.

"I will go to Tour School at the PGA of Catalunya near Gerona," he added.

"But even if I get a card there it will not get me into the big money events in 2013 that I am used to playing.

"I will be entitled to apply for sponsors’ invites to some of the bigger tournaments but they tend to be handed to players belonging to the larger management agencies. So it could be a case of waiting to see what happens."

Newport’s Phillip Price also missed the cut on three over, as did world number one Rory McIlroy (+5), but Bridgend’s Rhys Davies, who started the week 119th, fights on today on two over par.