RICHARD Bland shrugged off the effects of a bad back to secure a share of 13th at the British Masters - and now has his sights set on finishing his season in style.

The Stoneham player contended for much of the week at Woburn, as he concludes another strong year on the European Tour.

Bland shot rounds of 67, 67, 70 and 71, banking €60,641 in prize money to take his 2015 total up to €336,769.

That puts him 83rd in the order of merit, ahead of the last two events in the regular season.

The first of those is this week's Portugal Masters, which Bland will compete in. If all goes well there, he will take a week off during the Hong Kong Open.

The target is to secure a top-85 ranking on the order of merit this week, which would ensure a spot in the Turkish Airlines Open later this month - the first of the Tour's four Final Series events.

"If I'm guaranteed to be in Turkey then I won't go to Hong Kong, because of how long a stretch of events I have had," explained Bland, who would face an arduous turnaround between events.

"If I have to do that I will, but the plan is to play well and get it sewn up so I can have a week's rest before Turkey."

Bland had to have extensive physio on his back last week, and had it strapped up for the final two rounds, but he says it will not stop him playing this week.

"It was uncomfortable," admitted Bland. "It was playable, but it's obviously not ideal. It was after the shot that it kind of hurt, more so with the driver than with the irons.

"I had it strapped up Saturday and Sunday, so worst case scenario I can get it strapped again to give it a little bit of extra support."

Bland is in good form right now, with last week's result coming two weeks after finishing in a share of ninth at the European Open, and the ultimate goal of winning a tournament remains on his mind in the final weeks of this season.

"The pleasing thing is that when I have got in there I have sort of held my own, but I haven't been able to get right in the thick of it come Sunday, but that could happen this week," he said.

Speaking about the return of the British Masters to the Tour schedule following a seven-year hiatus, Bland said: "It was a great week. It's a great venue and the crowds were unbelievable."