Duncan Stewart and Scott Henry up for Challenge in Oman

Duncan Stewart is hoping to follow up his Madrid Challenge win earlier in the season in this week's Grand Final in Oman

While Duncan Stewart is under no real pressure due to the fact he’s already secured a step up to the European Tour next season, it’s win or bust in that respect for Scott Henry.

The Clydebank man sits 32nd in the Road to Oman Rankings and needs to land the top prize over the Greg Norman-designed Al Mouj Golf to climb into the top 15.

Henry returns to Muscat hoping he can channel the disappointment he felt there last year, when he narrowly missed out on a European Tour card after a gutsy last-round effort.

“When I finished my final round here last year I holed a six-foot par putt and I thought it would be enough to get my card,” recalled the 29-year-old.

“I wasn’t sure if it would be enough, but after shooting five under in the last round I was very happy as I played great. I couldn’t have asked anymore of myself in the final round. Shooting five under while everyone else was panicking did give me a lot of confidence, and I did take a lot from it.

“I remember saying to a Scottish journalist at the time ‘I don’t know whether that will be good enough, but deep down I know that I am proud of myself’. It was just unfortunate that it wasn’t quite enough.”

The 2012 Kazakhstan Open winner finished third in the recent Hainan Open to secure his place in this week’s event and is now looking to get in the mix on Saturday.

“I could definitely do with something better this year – as I think I need to win to earn a card for next year,” he added.

“Overall I am feeling pretty good. I have been playing pretty solid and not really shooting any high scores – I have just been playing some really steady golf. It has just been a pocket of holes in a tournament that has been costing me.

“I haven’t really thought about next year to be honest. I have a lot of things coming up, I am getting married at Christmas, but I know that by the end of this week I know where I’ll need to be golf-wise.”

Stewart, who won in Madrid earlier in the year and has played solid throughout the season, sits 10th in the rankings and all that remains to be determined now is if he can improve on that position.

“I’m really looking forward to this week as it’s a course that I really like,” said the Edinburgh-based player. “I am in a great position as the major pressure is off but I am still going to be doing everything I can to go out and win this week.

“I can still finish second on the Order of Merit if I win and a couple of the top guys finish down the field.

“Whatever happens, it’s been an incredible 12 months on and off the course. It was my son’s first birthday yesterday and it was unfortunate I missed it but a win this week would make up for it.”