A STUNNING final round at the Portugal Masters has boosted Eddie Pepperell’s chances of taking part in the European Tour’s glittering Final Series.

The Oxfordshire No 1 carded a seven-under par 64, the best of his rookie tour season, to rocket from 68th place to finish inside the top 30.

It was his final event of the regular season, but the £14,400 prize money improved the odds of getting into the star-studded Turkish Airlines Open next month.

The tournament in Antalya is part of three lucrative events in the build-up to the World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Tiger Woods is among the big names set to take part in Turkey, but with one week left until the field is confirmed, Pepperell’s 75th place in the tour rankings is due to get the Frilford Heath golfer a place.

With a prize fund of £4.4m, it will be the richest event the 22-year-old has contested in Europe and he is well aware a strong showing could see him finish inside the top 60, booking a place in the Dubai finale.

He said: “I’m hoping to get into Turkey. That would be great and as it stands, I should get in.

“I think the cut-off is at 84 on the rankings, so that makes nine spots.

“It’s guaranteed prize money and a small field, so if I can play well, I can jump into Dubai.

“There is a lot to play for and getting there would be a bonus.”

If Pepperell does get on the plane to Turkey he will not be short of confidence following Sunday’s exploits.

Back-to-back rounds of one-over par 72 had seen the Abingdon golfer slide down the leaderboard, but he came out firing in the final round.

A run of four birdies in the first five holes began the charge and he picked up further shots at the ninth, tenth, 12th and 15th, before a bogey at the 16th.

Pepperell added: “I just felt I played well in all areas and I hadn’t done that in the previous three days.

“It was the lowest round I’ve had on the European Tour. I had a nine-under on the Challenge Tour, but obviously the courses are tougher this year.

“I didn’t play well on the Saturday, but I made up for it in the final round.”