Colin Montgomerie insists he must stop making mental errors if he wants to end nearly two years without a win.
Second after an opening 67 at the Andalucian Open in Seville - his 500th European Tour event as a professional - Europe's Ryder Cup captain finished outside the top 30 after closing rounds of 75 and 74.
"I wasted dozens of shots this week and the last time I played," stated Montgomerie, who has not had a top-10 finish since the start of July last year.
"It's not good enough. I just seem to be making mental mistakes that I never ever made, there are so many creeping in that weren't there before.
"To compete and win I've got to stop them. I'll have a think, come back and try again."
Having failed to qualify for The Masters - he is down at 137th in the world - his next tournament is the Volvo China Open in three weeks.
Montgomerie is taking his family skiing before then, although he will not be taking to the slopes himself for fear of injuring himself.
The shot which had him most annoyed during the event was an eight iron into a bunker at the end of his third round.
"Just hopeless, terrible," commented the eight-time Order of Merit winner.
He ended the week with another gift, however. After a cake, an engraved ice bucket and some champagne came three bottles of wine bearing his nickname "Monty".
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