LORA FAIRCLOUGH feels like her career is back on track after winning a conditional card for next year's LPGA Tour in the States.

Twelve months ago, the 31-year-old Chorley pro was seriously considering her future after finishing 49th on the European Tour Order of Merit with winnings of just £13,600.

But a total break over the winter set her up for a more successful season this year - and a shot at getting back on the American Tour.

"I have finished as the eighth conditional," said Fairclough, after returning from final qualifying in Daytona Beach, Florida.

"It means I will probably miss their majors but I should get into most of their events."

Fairclough needed two stabs at getting to final qualifying after failing to make the top 30 at her first attempt.

She returned to Britain for just three days of rest and then went back out to play in pre-qualifying in California. She finished sixth to comfortably book her place at final qualifying.

"I shot one under, one over, five over then level par in the four rounds in final qualifying," she said. "That third round really knackered me. But I was glad to come back on the fourth day and shoot level par because I could have fallen apart.

"The first two rounds were played in the most horrendous weather as well; I came off at 6.30 on the first day absolutely sodden.

"The third day was the best day for weather and that was my worst day playing. But I came back on the final day and I even birdied the final hole which really made a difference to my position."

Fairclough finished 24th - the top 18 receive full cards - and is hoping to play in around 20 tournaments next season.

"I'm happy with that," she said. "I'm chuffed to bits really because I missed four tournaments in Europe and it cost me a lot of money but it was worth it.

"I even missed the matchplay championships at Gleneagles which I didn't even think I would get in to but I did but I had to miss that. I just feel sorry for the American girls because at least I have the European Tour to fall back on; there were 180 girls at pre-qualifying for just 30 places."

It will be the second time Fairclough has played on the American Tour.

She played on the 1999 tour but returned home in May and didn't go back.

"I wasn't happy," she said. "I had the sixth conditional card and my even ranking improved.

"But I was only out there because I felt I had to be not because I wanted to be. I want to go there now.

"It is where the big money is and I probably only have 10 good years left in me and making £29,000 on the European Tour is working for nothing really when you take into account expenses.

"In America the average purse is around £1million a tournament. In Europe it averages about £150,000 although you can win big money in the British Open and the Evian.

"Obviously I would have liked to have been exempt instead of conditional but I am chuffed because last year I was in the depths of despair with my golf."