Irish Open: The temptation is to ban the "R" word, to outlaw any mention of you-know-what taking place at you-know-where in September. But, no, it can't be done.

Padraig Harrington, for one, wants to use the scavenging for - okay, here we go, the ban is over - Ryder Cup points as a method to, perhaps, return to winning ways, which is what life as a tour player is really all about.

He's not alone. Graeme McDowell, too, would like to win again; and if he wants to make a debut appearance in the Ryder Cup at the K Club in September, he knows winning is the only way he can muscle onto Ian Woosnam's team.

Like Harrington, the time spent this season in America hasn't been as productive for McDowell as intended, but the return to playing in Europe offers a fresh start. As such, the Nissan Irish Open at Carton House is a source of renewed hope.

In many ways, Harrington and McDowell are of like minds. Both want to win a tournament, and all the better if it happens to be the Irish Open, and both have the Ryder Cup on their minds.

Yesterday, as Harrington got all "the peripheral stuff" out of the way so he could focus on the task at hand, the Dubliner, who has slipped to 29th in the world rankings, admitted too many thoughts have been swirling around his head. Was he dwelling on his Ryder Cup position?

"I don't dwell on it," said Harrington, who is 13th in both the world points and European points standings, adding: "I am dwelling more on winning tournaments.

"In fact, the Ryder Cup might be a good distraction as every point is worth something and I should start to think of a top-10 as being good. I shouldn't get too despondent when I feel I can't win a tournament. It makes it harder to win when you are thinking like that.

"A few second places would be good right now," quipped Harrington, who has had 26 second-place finishes in his career.

Harrington hasn't won since he claimed the Barclays Classic on the US Tour last June. His failure to lift any titles since has led to frustration, and more recently a change in mindset.

"I am getting frustrated at not winning tournaments," he said. "It is not that I am not trying on every shot, (but) I am making it harder on myself. Years ago I wasn't perhaps thinking of winning so much, which is maybe why I had more higher finishes.

"It is just a matter of looking at things from a different perspective and trying not to ponder things on the golf course too much. When I think too much I am in trouble."

So, Harrington, installed as tournament favourite by the bookmakers, has tried to take a relaxed approach to this latest appearance in the Irish Open, his 11th. He's had four top-six finishes from the last five, including two runner-up finishes. He was tied-fifth last year.

In contrast, McDowell missed the cut a year ago. That was a rare enough occurrence for McDowell last season.

Unfortunately for him, his time in America this year resulted in a slump that saw him miss the cut in six successive strokeplay tournaments. "It was a real shock to the system," agreed McDowell of that horrible spell, which saw genuine Ryder Cup ambitions transform into more of a long-shot now.

"At the start of the year I did feel I was on a backward slide. It kind of gained momentum, and it was nice to get out of that slump. It was probably the worst run I've ever been on."

The evidence of recent weeks is that McDowell has regained his swing and his confidence.

"My game's definitely turned a corner," he insisted. "You get a run of missed cuts and it is demoralising. It took a few minor swing changes to get the ball doing what I was used to it doing. I was hitting some very interesting shots earlier in the year.

"I figure I've come out the other side a better and smarter player."

McDowell will concentrate on playing in Europe over the summer in an effort to revitalise his Ryder Cup ambitions. "Sure, any Ryder Cup thoughts have receded in my mind a little bit. I've got to get back to playing good golf again before I can think of getting on the Ryder Cup team. I feel I can win at least twice before the team gets picked, and that's kind of what I'm trying to do, I am trying to get myself back in the mix and trying to get myself back in the winner's circle. If I can do that, I can start thinking about making the team again."

Where better to start than at Carton House?