Martin Le Mesurier admits that early-season results will determine whether he has a future in European golf.

The 29-year-old Brokenhurst Manor star, right, is still brooding over an unhappy first season on the European Tour - so much so that he's spent most of the winter off the golf course.

"I've just been playing at weekends," says the man who took the European Challenge Tour by storm in 2003 by winning twice, consistently finishing in the top ten and taking an impressive second place in the order of merit.

Le Mesurier was expected to make a big impact on the main tour but, after a good result in the A & Z Masters in Australia a year ago, his game went off the boil and he admits: "I didn't enjoy the second half of the season.

"I did too much travelling through the early part of 2004 and, when it came to trying to save my card later in the season, I was burned out.

"If I do get back on to the European Tour, I would do things differently. I would plan my season better - pace myself so that I had something in reserve."

Le Mesurier lost his card by a distance although, when he looks back, there were two big turning points - missing the cut by a shot for big tournaments like the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth and the German Masters.

"If I'd got through the cut in those two, it might have made a big difference to how much I earned. But I didn't and one or two other problems contributed to some disappointing results and knocked my confidence," he said.

Le Mesurier had to pull out of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor after going down with a stomach bug which took longer than expected to clear up.

Then, when the family dog bit him on the finger as they frolicked in the garden, more playing time was lost.

"All in all it was a bad year," said Le Mesurier, who lives in Langley on Southampton's Waterside. "Right now I haven't got my enthusiasm for golf back. I'm hoping that might change when I get out to Spain for some practice next month."

Le Mesurier has pinpointed the Madeira Open, a co-sanctioned event for European Tour and Challenge Tour players in April for his comeback.

When the Challenge Tour moves into Europe after doing the winter rounds in central America and Africa, Le Mesurier will climb on board, but he says: "I'll pick and choose where I play. I certainly won't be playing week in, week out. What I need is a few good performances to get my spirits up. If it happens then hopefully I can go on and try and win my card back.

"But if it doesn't happen, I'm going to have to give some serious thought about where my future lies."

Le Mesurier has been helping Brokenhurst Manor club professional Bruce Parker during the winter break, but he rules out a possible switch to the club side of golf.

"I always dreamed of playing on the European Tour, but so far it hasn't come up to my expectations," he said.