FORMER British amateur champion Lee James has shelved his full-time department store job to concentrate on his European Tour ambitions.
Six-time Challenge Tour champion James, who won his last event four years ago in France, is competing on the British-based tours this summer.
James has played in 14 events since March, retaining the Dorset Open for a fourth successive year at Dudsbury, and winning three Players Tour tournaments.
The 40-year-old Poole-born star’s prize money for success has ranged from £850 to £1,200.
“I have retained my store job on a part-time basis after working full-time over the winter months,” explained James, who partnered Jack Nicklaus in the first round of the 1995 US Masters after winning the British amateur title at Nairn the previous year.
Since playing at Augusta, James has topped the Challenge Tour rankings in 2002 with wins in Kenya, Luxembourg and Finland, and made two unsuccessful ventures onto the main European Tour.
“I have never given up hope of making a return, but need to win enough money or attract a sponsor to make it possible,” added James.
“It may be too costly, however, to play all the stages of the European Tour School this year.”