A year is a long time in the world of golf.
This week could potentially be make-or-break for some players as they try and secure a European Tour card for 2019 with a good finish at the Andalucía Valderrama Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation.
But for those who do retain playing privileges, they will hope to follow in the footsteps of those who were struggling this time last year and enjoyed a successful 2018 campaign.
Wade Ormsby
The Australian finished fifth in Andalucía last year, which moved him from 106th to 83rd in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex. He wasted little time in putting his playing privileges to good use.
In the first tournament of the season, Ormsby won his maiden title by lifting the UBS Hong Kong Open.
That gave him an early lead in the Race to Dubai Rankings and, after a season which included top-20 finishes in the Australian PGA Championship, BMW International Open, HNA Open De France and the KLM Open, the 38 year old lies 43rd in the standings on €775,196 ahead of this week's action at Real Club Valderrama.
Chris Paisley
Despite missing the cut in Andalucía, Paisley ended last season in 112th place in the Race to Dubai Rankings and retained his playing privileges.
Like Ormsby, he was soon celebrating his maiden European Tour title as he won the BMW SA Open Championship Proudly hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni by three shots in January.
He continued his impressive start to the year, finishing in a tie for fifth at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA and outright fifth at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
He approaches the end of the year in 59th position having won a career-best €601,115.
Russell Knox
It has been a year to remember for Scotsman Knox, who is tenth on the Race to Dubai after winning his first Rolex Series title at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation in July.
But things were not so bright for Knox this time last year as he finished in the top 50 just three times in 12 events to sit 107th on the list despite finishing in a share of fifth at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Knox got his 2018 campaign under way in style, finishing in a tie for 12th at the US Open in June before coming joint-second at the HNA Open de France.
Victory at Ballyliffin Golf Club followed - and Knox went on to record top-50 finishes at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and USPGA Championship.
