One of the key factors behind a successful year on the course is getting your schedule right, especially in a Ryder Cup year.
Every point counts but playing in as many events as possible does not guarantee you will make more money and earn more points.
If anything, I tend to play better when I am in slightly fewer events because you go into every competition feeling fresh rather than tired.
I do get grief sometimes from people who say I don’t play in enough events but I played in about 26 or 27 events last year which is a lot of golf.
Tiger Woods plays no more than 19 events but the difference is he is playing very well in the majority of them.
I am going to be doing my very best to get into the Ryder Cup team but I learned a lesson when I tried too hard to get into Sam Torrance’s team in 2002 and played in too many events.
I am happy with my sche- dule and I know I need to play well in the first three events in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai as I am not in the Masters or the WGC match play championship.
I am hoping to play three events in America after Dubai. I have not played in many PGA Tour events but I am hoping to get invites to Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, the Valero Texas Open and the Shell Houston Open.
I have been invited to play Bay Hill most years but haven’t been able to because it has clashed with my schedule but I am keen to go this year, so, hopefully, Mr Palmer can keep a space for me.
The first three events are going to be really important because if I can do well in them then that will build some momentum for the rest of the year.
No one is going to be trying harder than me to get into the Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles but you can’t allow that pressure and desire to get the better of you. When you are on the course you just have to focus on the rhythm of your swing and making sure you are getting up and down when required.
Trying too hard means things can go pear-shaped, so you just have to focus on your golf and hope everything else falls into place.
Even though I had a poor year in 2013 I am confident I can have the good 2014 I require to put myself in the frame for the Ryder Cup.
Even if I don’t make an automatic pick you have got to do something for Paul McGinley to consider you for a wildcard.
I don’t expect him to consider me at the moment, so I need to get myself into a position where I will give him a selection headache.
However, I still think I can qualify automatically but it is going to take a massive effort.