AS the Ryder Cup got under way in America, Chris Wood's dreams of a regular place on the European Tour in 2009 received a boost as he claimed joint first place in the Qualifying School tournament at The Oxfordshire.

Long Ashton golfer Wood shot a two-under-par 70 to end on 17 under, the same score as Northern Irish amateur Jonathan Caldwell. Wood won £1,500, but faded towards the end of his round as play slowed to a crawl.

"I lost my concentration because we were waiting on every shot on the back nine," said the Open Championship silver medallist. "It was so slow it was frightening. I was just glad to get in at the end."

Wood, who had dropped only one shot in the previous three rounds, leaked three shots in the final three holes as frustration set in.

"I was playing solid and not making any mistakes, but I was running out of food and drink because it was taking so long," he said.

Wood has won a place at the second stage of the Q School in Spain in November, but he will need to progress from there to the final stage and then finish in the top 30 before he obtains a tour card.

He could still win a card with a top-three finish at one of his three remaining invitation tournaments, starting with the British Masters at The Belfry from Thursday.

"If I play at The Belfry like I did this week then I won't need to go to second stage," he said.

And Wood can even imagine further into the future – the Ryder Cup in 2010 at Celtic Manor in Wales.

He added: "That course is only across the road for me and the way I'm working on my game there's nothing stopping me. The Ryder Cup would definitely be pretty nice in two years."