It's crunch time!

During the summer months my articles have focused on the major championships, tournament winners and the form of the household names at the top of the World Rankings. The eyes of the golfing world have been on The Open, The US PGA, The Ryder Cup and the condition of Tiger Woods' left knee.

It has been another great season so far with back to back major victories for Padraig Harrington, both won in dramatic style, many first time winners and some new stars born on both tours either side of the Atlantic such as Martin Kaymer and Anthony Kim.

As the attention of golf fans and 24 of the worlds' best players turns towards the Ryder Cup in two weeks time, the majority of tour players will be biting their nails and making the trip to Cran-Sur-Sierre in Switzerland for the European Masters. There are only eight regular events left on the European Tour, and for many the chance to maintain their playing rights in the 'Premier League' of golf for another season. Golf, as in many high profile sports, is big business. The prize money on offer is huge and the rewards for good play are great, but for every Harrington or Westwood there are a hundred players playing just to pay the bills, the ones we don't often hear about.

There are hundreds of players queuing up to get on the Tour each year, and once you make it, keeping that Tour Card is paramount to future success.

For the top players, life on Tour is pretty sweet - the best hotels, first class seats, the best endorsement contracts and the ability to pick and choose your playing schedule are just some of the many perks.

But for most, you have to be ready to play at a moment's notice, to jump on a plane to China on a Tuesday ready to play on Thursday morning and stay in cheaper hotels to save money. There is a tournament somewhere virtually every week, the chance to make some money and keep that Tour Card.

So far this season, over 400 different players have played in European Tour events and out of them only 115 will keep their full playing rights for next season and the chance to take part in a new, exhilarating era in world golf with the launch of the Race to Dubai and the most lucrative tournament in golf, the Dubai World Championship. The stakes are very high.

For those who do not make it, there is a second chance. The prospect, however, of returning to Qualifying School is one that would fill many a player with dread! The pressure on the participants is enormous and it increases with each of the three stages.

Thousands will start out at the first stage at Chart Hills Golf Club, England on Tuesday, all with hopes and dreams of reaching the pot of gold on offer, and it will culminate with a six round marathon tournament in Spain in November with only about 30 Cards up for grabs. Tough school indeed!

The second tier of European golf is the Challenge Tour, and each year 15 lucky players who have topped the Order of Merit for the season are presented with Tour Cards for the 'Premier League' - they are all possible stars of the future, but for those in 16th place and below, the dreaded Qualifying School awaits them!

So while Harrington and Co. are off to get measured for their Ryder Cup suits, spare a thought for those travelling to Switzerland and beyond in an attempt to save themselves from the drop!

We certainly are at the business end of the season at both ends of the scale with the Order of Merit, Ryder Cup, eight tournament titles and Tour Cards still all up for grabs. It promises to be very exciting indeed.