Focused Graeme McDowell pushing for Ryder Cup spot

Graeme McDowell is not a man given to pushing panic buttons but he knows that the next we weeks are crucial if he is to keep up his amazing Ryder Cup record intact.

The Portrush star, 36, is the only current European player to qualify automatically for the last four Ryder Cup teams.

And he admits that meeting up with skipper Darren Clarke for a gathering of Ryder Cup veterans at Sawgrass last week was all the inspiration he needed to end a frustrating run of four missed cuts in five starts with a Top 10 finish in The Players.