Matthew Jordan targets PGA Tour card following impressive Open performance

For the second successive year the 28-year-old posted a top-10 finish in his home major to book a return at Royal Portrush next year and only Justin Rose finished higher among his countrymen.

He has had two other top 10s this year, at the Kenya Open and Soudal Open in Belgium, and is 37th in the Race to Dubai rankings.

Jordan is chasing his first victory and also one of 10 qualifying spots for a place on the PGA Tour available to those players not already eligible, and he feels securing another Open place is the validation he needs.

"For me it's a few weeks off and then back to the end of what is DP World season, just trying to get one of those PGA Tour cards, just trying to win as well. That is one thing I've set as a goal," he said.

"Sometimes you are not quite rewarded for consistency. I've been close a couple of times in Kenya and Belgium, I am just waiting for that week of the year when everything comes good and I go ahead and do better.

"There is no lightbulb thing that I could come up with. I am getting closer than ever, I feel that myself, so it's a 'throw enough mud at the wall and some will stick' kind of attitude.

"I feel like I am progressing, I feel I am waiting for that week and I don't have to do that much.

"This (his Open finish) will give me confidence but I remember last year I finished 10th and actually ended up not doing as well as I'd hoped to so I need to carry it on. There is a lot up for grabs."