Graeme McDowell hopes a strong showing at the WGC Match Play will rule out the need for a Ryder Cup wild card.
Star hoping Match Play performance will boost cup chances
Graeme McDowell hopes a strong showing at the WGC Match Play will help rule out the need for a Ryder Cup wild card.
If skipper Colin Montgomerie is looking for a partner for Rory McIlroy, McDowell could just be the man.
But his job for the next six months is to try to make sure he does not need that route into the team.
The next step in that bid comes on Wednesday when the 30-year-old plays England's Luke Donald in the opening round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.
More attention is bound to be paid to fourth seed McIlroy against American Kevin Na but his fellow Northern Irishman and regular practice partner has his own agenda.
"I've had three first-round exits and a second-round exit in this, so that's not great," said McDowell.
"For a guy who rates himself a good match-play player, which I do, I haven't had a run in this yet.
"I don't know whether it's because it's early in the season and my game hasn't been in the best shape coming in here, but this time I am feeling as good as I've felt in a long time at this stage of the year.
"I didn't take much of a lay-off. I'm usually the sort who likes to play hard during the summer and then take a nice break but this time I've played a lot - and I felt like I played well enough to win in both Doha and Dubai if I had putted better."
McDowell made his own Ryder Cup debut two years ago and came away with 2½ points out of four.
"It's good for the Ryder Cup that Monty knows Rory and I play well together," he continued.
"I'm in a slightly different position to two years ago because I'm a legitimate pick now. Last time I wasn't.
"If my game's in good shape and I still just miss out I've got a great shot at getting a pick. Not just because of Rory but because I did decently last time and I'm renowned as a good team player. That's great but obviously I want to qualify automatically."
Donald starts favourite against him not just because of his higher world ranking - 23rd to 47th - but also because he had a runners-up finish on the US Tour in Los Angeles two weeks ago.
Dove Mountain, however, is the longest course in European Tour history at 7,849 yards and lack of length is the biggest weakness in Donald's game.
Accenture Match Play tee times
Tee-off times in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at Dove Mountain in Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday (seeded positions in brackets, all times GMT):
1436 (12) Robert Allenby (Aus) v (53) Peter Hanson (Swe)
1445 (21) Luke Donald (Gbr) v (44) Graeme McDowell (Gbr)
1455 (11) Kenny Perry (USA) v (54) Brian Gay (USA)
1504 (22) Zach Johnson (USA) v (43) Francesco Molinari (Ita)
1514 (9) Ian Poulter (Gbr) v (56) Justin Leonard (USA)
1523 (24) Angel Cabrera (Arg) v (41) Adam Scott (Aus)
1533 (10) Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) v (55) Alexander Noren (Swe)
1542 (23) Camilo Villegas (Col) v (42) Dustin Johnson (USA)
1552 (5) Rory McIlroy (Gbr) v (60) Kevin Na (USA)
1601 (28) Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) v (37) Oliver Wilson (Gbr)
1611 (6) Paul Casey (Gbr) v (59) Stephen Ames (Can)
1620 (27) Alvaro Quiros (Spa) v (38) Mike Weir (Can)
1630 (8) Padraig Harrington (Ire) v (57) Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind)
1639 (25) Anthony Kim (USA) v (40) Matt Kuchar (USA)
1649 (7) Henrik Stenson (Swe) v (58) Ben Crane (USA)
1658 (26) YE Yang (Kor) v (39) Soren Kjeldsen (Den)
1708 (13) Sergio Garcia (Spa) v (52) David Toms (USA)
1717 (20) Lucas Glover (USA) v (45) Anders Hansen (Den)
1727 (14) Sean O'Hair (USA) v (51) Simon Dyson (Gbr)
1736 (19) Stewart Cink (USA) v (46) Edoardo Molinari (Ita)
1746 (16) Robert Karlsson (Swe) v (49) Rory Sabbatini (Rsa)
1755 (17) Ross Fisher (Gbr) v (48) Thongchai Jaidee (Thai)
1805 (15) Ernie Els (Rsa) v (50) Ryan Moore (USA)
1814 (18) Retief Goosen (Rsa) v (47) Soren Hansen (Den)
1824 (4) Martin Kaymer (Ger) v (61) Chad Campbell (USA)
1833 (29) Vijay Singh (Fij) v (36) Tim Clark (Rsa)
1843 (3) Jim Furyk (USA) v (62) Scott Verplank (USA)
1852 (30) Hunter Mahan (USA) v (35) Charl Schwartzel (Rsa)
1902 (1) Steve Stricker (USA) v (64) Ross McGowan (Gbr)
1911 (32) Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) v (33) Michael Sim (Aus)
1921 (2) Lee Westwood (Gbr) v (63) Chris Wood (Gbr)
1930 (31) Nick Watney (USA) v (34) Yuta Ikeda (Jpn)
