Colsaerts aims to secure PGA Tour card

Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts needs a top-ten finish at this week's Frys.com Open to secure his full time playing privileges for the 2013 PGA Tour season.

The big-hitting Belgian was offered a sponsor's exemption to the second event of the PGA Tour's Fall Series courtesy of his scintillating performance at the 39th Ryder Cup.

The 28-year-old has earned $494,386 in his eight PGA Tour events this season, and needs to finish the equivalent of 125th on the money list to earn a full card for next season.

Jeff Maggert currently occupies 125th position, having amassed $598,994 thus far in 2012. If Colsaerts finishes alone in 10th place this week he will earn $135,000, taking his total to $630,000 - curently good enough for 120th place.

"When you've got a chance to play this tour with all these players, the courses you play on such a big stage, it would be stupid not to consider it," Colsaerts said.

"I've played in Europe for a lot of years. It's an unbelievable tour to play on and get your grades up.

"But once you get a taste of what the possibilities are here, they get you pretty excited."

The longest hitter in top-tier golf has an enjoyed a purple patch over the last couple of years, and the former self-confessed party animal is looking to push on.

In 2011, he won his first European Tour title at the Volvo China Open, before holding off 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell in the final of the this season's Volvo World Matchplay Championship in Spain.

He raised his profile in America with a strong showing at the US Open and a tie for seventh at the Wyndham Championship, but really made his mark with a brilliant display in the Friday four balls at Medinah, where he single-handedly defeated Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker.

"When you realise how many brilliant golf courses you have around this country, it's quite unbelievable for someone like me, coming from such a small county, to have a chance to play golf around an unbelievable country like this and play these fantastic courses."