PHIL Archer has gone back to basics to get his game back on course.

The Birchwood-attached professional reckons he's at last sorted out his putting problems which have plagued him for the last two years.

And he's found the solution just at the right time ahead of this week's Europro Tour final qualifying tournament at Saunton.

"From tee to green I'd been hitting the ball as well as ever but I've had too many three putts on my card. It was holding me back but I decided to try the method I used when I started the game and it appears to have worked," said 30-year-old Archer.

Now he hopes to be putting on the style instead of the agony in Devon where his confidence will be running high after a blistering last few days.

He won the regional qualifier at Wynyard with two flawless round of 70 and 69, five-under-par all told and containing 11 birdies, which followed his brilliant defence of the Manchester Alliance strokeplay championship at Denton.

Archer hit the target with sub-par rounds of 70 and 68 to finish a stroke ahead of home pro Mike Hollingworth after birdying the last two holes.

And only a couple of days earlier he flattened the field in a pro-am at High Legh Park with a 68.

If he continues that sort of form this week he should sail through at Saunton.

The Europro Tour is a back into the main circuit for the leading players in the order of merit which is based on 18 fixtures.

Archer lost his European Tour card 18 months ago and although he expects a new invitation to play the Challenge Tour this year he's sees the Europro as his best chance of returning to the big time.

"I keep setting myself goals but even I don't make them this year I won't give up," he added.