Speaking to The Times on Monday he joked "I wish it was the end of the season now as I would have earned a full card on the European Tour."

However his planned two weeks off had been changed when he received a phone call from a European Tour official to tell him he was first reserve for the European Tour event, the Open de Espana, at the Real Club de Golf in Seville starting on (today) Thursday, 1st May.

"It is too good an opportunity to miss so I am flying out to Seville on Tuesday and hope someone drops out and I get the opportunity to play with some of the top names in European golf," added Maybin.

His decision to fly out to Spain proved right as he has made into the event and will tee off on Thursday from the 10th at 1.00 pm along with French man Jean-Francois Lucquin and fellow Challenge Tour player Alvaro Velasco from Spain.

Also in the field will be fellow Ulsterman Darren Clarke, last week's winner on the European Tour at the BMW Asian Open in China, and he will be tee off with American John Daly and local favourite Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Going back to his third place finish, Maybin stated "the final day was very difficult the wind was strong, the pin placings were very tricky and added to this the greens were drying out and very quick.

"Going into the final round I was on level par after rounds of 72, 68, and 70. After a dropped shot in the front nine I picked up a couple of birdies around the 9th 10th and 11th and pars at the final seven holes gave me a two under score of 278 which was good enough for a share of third place," added a delighted Maybin.

Maybin's score of 68 was only bettered or equalled on the day by the winner former European tour player Joakim Haeggman who returned a two under par 68 for a total of 275, and second placed Marcus Higley from England who a final day score of three under par 67 for a total of 276, as the rest of the field struggled to break par in the tricky conditions.

This is a great boost for the Ballyclare professional so early this season as he aims to earn his European Tour card for 2009, However it is early days as last week was only the ninth of 36 scheduled events on the Challenge Tour, this summer.

His planned two weeks off now will only be one week before he heads to Italy in the middle of May for the start of a hectic summer schedule which will see him play golf in most of western European countries before returning to Ireland in August for a tournament in Glasson, Athlone.

However all at Ballyclare Golf Club will be keeping a close eye on Sky TVs coverage as Gareth makes his professional debut on the European Tour this weekend.