Graeme McDowell is targeting his second European Tour title of the season in the Scottish Open tomorrow, and with it a Ryder Cup debut.
McDowell carded a third-round 66 at Loch Lomond for a 10-under-par total of 203 to share the lead with England's Simon Khan.
Ross Fisher, winner of the European Open on Sunday, is two shots behind in a share of third place with Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, India's Jeev Milkha Singh and Australian Richard Green.
McDowell currently occupies the final automatic qualifying place for Nick Faldo's team to defend the Ryder Cup at Valhalla in September, but victory tomorrow and the big money first prize would guarantee him a place in the side.
"It's certainly in there in the back of my mind, maybe somewhere up near the front actually," admitted McDowell, who carded two bogeys, five birdies and holed from seven feet for an eagle on the short 14th after driving the green.
"Obviously if I was to win tomorrow I realise what that would mean but it's not going to help me with the shots I'm going to play. If I don't make the team it's not going to kill me, I'm young and I'll have other chances. It's not the be all and end all."
McDowell, who "punished himself" by working as an on-course commentator during the last Ryder Cup at the K Club, added: "I'm trying not to live in the future but it's tough not to.
"I work a lot with my psychologist, Dr Karl Morris, on focusing on the present and it's very very important that I focus on this week, it's all I can control. There's a lot of golf to be played and a lot of good players who want to be on that team."
McDowell won the Ballantine's Championship in Korea earlier this year and was third in the European Open on Sunday, and believes that will stand him in good stead tomorrow.
"I've been in the mix plenty and I feel comfortable now," added the 28-year-old from Portrush, who led after the first round of the Open at Hoylake in 2006 before fading to 61st.
"I was in the last group on both days last weekend and I feel like I've got over the nerves. It would be pretty nice to win, it's a special feeling we all like. I have to go out there and play my own game and give myself a chance down the last tough four holes — probably the best finishing stretch in European golf."
Earlier in the day, Rory McIlroy - the leading amateur in last year's Open Championship - made a last-ditch bid to qualify for this year's event.
The Co Down teenager proved himself on the world stage 12 months ago with an opening round of 68 at Carnoustie, the only bogey-free round of the day, before going on to win the silver medal as top amateur in 42nd place.
The 18-year-old turned professional after representing Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup and promptly finished third in only his second event, the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, to earn enough money to secure his European Tour card for 2008.
Finishing 10th in the European Open last week was not enough to gain a place at Birkdale but one more spot is up for grabs for the leading non-exempt player in the Scottish Open — as long as they finish in the top five.
McIlroy's chances looked slim after he made the cut with just one shot to spare, but the talented teenager moved into a share of ninth on an overcast and blustery morning at Loch Lomond.
After two birdies and a bogey in his first five holes, McIlroy drove to the edge of the green on the short par-four ninth and chipped in for an eagle two to reach the turn in 33.
A remarkable back nine, with four birdies, four bogeys and just a solitary par on the last, moved McIlroy to six-under, just four off the lead and a share of 13th place.
Graeme McDowell was also closing in on Cabrera's lead this afternoon, two early birdies moving him to seven-under, while Damien McGrane - on eight under - has yet to take to the course.
Collated third round scores
(Gbr & Irl unless stated,
Irishin bold, par 71)
203 Graeme McDowell67 70 66, Simon Khan 69 66 68
205Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 68 68 69, Ross Fisher 68 69 68, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 68 69 68, Richard Green (Aus) 67 68 70
206Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 70 67 69, Adam Scott (Aus) 72 66 68, Ian Poulter 69 69 68, David Lynn 69 67 70, Lee Westwood 67 69 70, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 64 71 71
207Christian Cevaer (Fra) 70 67 70, Rory McIlroy70 69 68, James Kingston (Rsa) 70 70 67, Paul Lawrie 68 67 72, Robert Dinwiddie 68 68 71, Oliver Fisher 68 69 70
208Alexander Noren (Swe) 64 73 71, Oliver Wilson 71 66 71, Ernie Els (Rsa) 72 66 70, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 72 65 71, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 67 69 72
209Francesco Molinari (Ita) 69 68 72, Phil Mickelson (USA) 71 67 71, Anthony Wall 70 70 69, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 67 71 71, David Howell 69 70 70, John Bickerton 66 71 72, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 70 70 69
210 Damien McGrane68 66 76, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 67 68 75, Gary Murphy68 70 72, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 70 68 72, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 70 68 72, Mark Brown (USA) 73 66 71
211Garry Houston 66 71 74, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 71 69 71, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 73 67 71, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 65 68 78, Mark Foster 68 70 73, Simon Wakefield 71 68 72, Gregory Havret (Fra) 69 70 72
212Stephen Gallacher 72 68 72, Andrew Oldcorn 71 69 72, Alastair Forsyth 73 67 72, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 68 70 74, Paul McGinley70 70 72, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 69 70 73
213Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 73 66 74, Matthew Millar (Aus) 72 64 77, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 67 70 76, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 69 70 74, David Drysdale 68 71 74, David Dixon 68 70 75, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 70 68 75, Ross McGowan 69 70 74
214Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 67 70 77, Tom Whitehouse 68 71 75, Andres Romero (Arg) 68 71 75, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 69 70 75, Johan Edfors (Swe) 67 71 76
215Scott Strange (Aus) 70 68 77
216Iain Pyman 69 71 76, Peter Lawrie71 68 77
