BLACKWOOD’S Bradley Dredge is hopeful a strong conclusion to the summer will see him win back his spot on the European Tour.

The 41-year old has been beset by injury and illness problems since losing his card in 2012, but he’s now on course for a return to full playing privileges after taking full advantage of a medical exemption.

Dredge will tee the ball up on the European Tour in five of the next six events, but he’s already taken a giant stride towards regaining his card after finishing second at the Made in Denmark event, bagging €160,000 in the process after losing a final day showdown with Marc Warren.

“My season has hit an important patch as over the next six weeks I play five events on the main European Tour,” Dredge wrote on his official website.

“And I have made a great start towards recapturing the full tour card I lost at the end of the 2012 season.

“It was disappointing not to win the new Made in Denmark event after heading the leaderboard at the end of the first three rounds.

“However, there was a silver lining to the cloud as I finished runner up two shots behind the winner Marc Warren.

“After being at the top of the leaderboard for the first three days it was disappointing not to win the Made in Denmark title. But I don't want to take anything away from Marc who played very well over the weekend.

“However by finishing second and picking up around €160,000 I have moved up to 89th in the Race to Dubai money list and I am now within touching distance of recovering my full playing rights for next year which I lost two years ago.

“That was my target as I began this current run of five tournaments in six weeks and it will be a big relief if I can get back into the routine of being a full Tour member again.”

Dredge felt he paid the price for a slow start in his final round, the first time he’s been in a final group on the European Tour since the 2009 Wales Open.

“Marc and I were joint leaders at the start of the final round. But I made a bogey at the first hole and hit a poor a three wood at the fourth and with Marc getting off to a fast start I found myself five shots off the lead,” he said.

“I just did not play well enough to put pressure on him but at least I made some birdies on the back nine to secure the runners up spot and finished only two shots behind the winner.

“Now I am heading home for 24 hours before flying out to the Czech Open on Tuesday knowing the just one more good week between now and the end of October will recapture my full playing rights.”