It’s not quite the last chance saloon but the clock is ticking. The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship may have the convivial, let’s-smile-for-the-cameras feel of a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a new community centre but the serious business of European Tour survival provides a nail-nibbling sub-plot to proceedings.

Over the seasons, the home comforts of the links have provided a timely get-out-of-jail card for a host of Scots floundering at the wrong end of the order of merit. With just three regular events left on the schedule, the money on offer here means a good result come Sunday can turn a season of toil on its head.

Richie Ramsay is one such Scot in need of a pick-me-up. The 35-year-old is languishing down in 127th spot on the money list and outside a top-110 placing required to retain his playing rights for next year.

In his 10th season as a full card holder, this is uncharted territory for the Aberdonian. He’s never finished out of the leading 100 since coming onto the main circuit so scrapping away in a dog fight is something out of his comfort zone.

“It’s probably greater pressure than I’m used to,” he said with a wry grin. “I’ve just not played as well as I should have played. I’ve not taken opportunities and I’ve just got to deal with where I’m at.”

Always one to pore over the detail like Columbo mulling over the minutiae at a murder scene, Ramsay has tried to pinpoint just where things have gone wrong in a season which has produced just one top-10 finish. Since June, his run of results has followed a familiar pattern. Made cut, missed cut, made cut, missed cut …

“I pretty much broke it down in detail to find out where the problems were and I feel that it’s mainly been from 10 feet in with my putting and also needing to hit my wedges a bit closer than I have been,” added Ramsay, who finished tied second in the 2014 Dunhill Links Championship. “You can get some much momentum from hitting a wedge close and knocking the putt in. That’s two shots straight away and the difference that makes over four rounds is massive over the course of a season.

“I’ve been losing too many shots from 10-12 feet specifically this season, so I’ve been working hard on my green reading as I felt that’s where the problems were.

“It’s just a case of going out there and playing good golf over the next three weeks. I know what I have to do. Having been there and done it in this event definitely gives me a bit of confidence.

“My head has been spinning a little bit, to be honest. It’s been a busy year off the course and I’ve also had a few health issues here and there that have knocked me sideways. That plays with your mind and I don’t think my mind has been as clear as it could have been this year.

“All in all, I’ve just got to go out and play well this week, next week at Walton Heath then the week after that at Valderrama.

“If I can aim high, get in the mix here and even aim for a win, then hopefully I can have a good result and then suddenly my situation flips on its head. Dubai (for the Tour Championship) and all those sorts of things could then come into the equation.

“Patience is massive for any golfer and I’m no different. When you are not playing so well, you need even more patience.

“There are times when I’ve thought to myself this year, ‘am I doing the right things?’ But I’m definitely still working as hard as I have ever done. I don’t feel like I have backed off in that respect.

“There have just been things here and there and it kind of snowballs out of control.”

Ramsay’s fellow Scots, David Drysdale and Scott Jamieson, are just inside the safety zone of the leading 110 but can’t afford to ease up while the likes of Connor Syme and three-time tour champion Marc Warren are in desperate need of a high finish.