Exclusive:Michael Stewart to tee up in Spanish Open after change of mind following dream Dunhill debut

The 36-year-old Ayrshireman has changed his initial decision after discovering that he’s in a position to secure a better HotelPlanner Tour card for next season than the one he is on course to earn through the Tartan Pro Tour.

In finishing joint-fourth behind Pole Adrian Meronk in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday, Stewart was informed that he’d secured a spot in the $3.75 million Open de Espana, which starts at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid on Thursday.

Sitting in one of the two HotelPlanner Tour card-winning spots on this season’s Tartan Pro Tour, the former Walker Cup player felt it would be “silly” to run the risk of being leapfrogged in the last event of the season on the Scottish-based circuit by going to Spain.

However, after being alerted about a DP World Tour Non-Members Points List by South African MJ Daffue, one of his playing partners in Sunday’s closing circuit in the Dunhill Links, he has changed his mind.

“It was looking likely that I was going to play on the Tartan Pro Tour this week but, after speaking to the tour and having things laid out for me, there is a thing I never knew existed called the Non-Member Points List,” Stewart told The Scotsman.

“At the moment, I’m in a place where I would have Category 10 for next season’s HotelPlanner Tour whereas the card on offer through the Tartan Pro Tour is a Category 12 one.

“So I have decided to take up the spot in Madrid and I won’t be playing at Gleneagles. I’m looking forward to it and it’s another free go for me, so hopefully I can keep it going.”