Paul Lawrie knows time is running out if he is to make his dream of playing in a home Ryder Cup a reality.
Injuries and a dip in form have hindered the 1999 Open champion hopes of maintaining his place in the European team after helping Jose Maria Olazabal’s side to a famous victory in Medinah two years ago.
But the 45-year-old knows if he can rediscover his best golf at this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and next week’s Open championship at Royal Liverpool then he can force his way back into the thoughts of European captain Paul McGinley.
He said: “I am not in a position I would have liked to have been in coming in to the Scottish Open as far as Ryder Cup selection is concerned. It has been a mixture of poor form, a few injuries and, as I always like to tell everyone, bad luck.
“But on the whole I have not played anywhere near well enough to be in a position to get in the team
“It is my job now to get some form going and knock off one of the big ones before the end of qualifying to give Paul a little bit of a headache. I am miles down the list at the moment so it would take an unbelievable effort to get in the team now – but I haven’t given up.”
McGinley, who was at Lawrie’s golf centre in Aberdeen to take part in a challenge match against the owner, also believed it was still possible for Lawrie to make the team.
He said: “Absolutely – 100%. Qualifying automatically is going to be difficult but I have three picks and someone coming late with form is never going to be a problem and I wish him the best of luck.”