Worried Paul McGinley admits he is looking over his shoulder as the race for Ryder Cup places gathers momentum at the Irish Open.
McGinley has been one of Europe's star performers in the last two contests, holing the winning putt at The Belfry in 2002 and claiming two and a half points out of a possible three in the record victory at Oakland Hills in 2004.
The 39-year-old looked certain to be in the side for September's clash at the K Club in his native Dublin after winning the Volvo Masters at the end of last season, but he has suffered an untimely slump in form.
He still occupies an automatic qualifying place but admits a run of four consecutive missed cuts has given him cause for concern.
"Of course I'm nervy, very," admitted McGinley at a wet and windy Carton House outside Dublin. "I've missed four cuts in a row.
"I have a lot of respect for the players behind me in the ranking tables and I'm looking over my shoulder to be quite honest. I've got to play better, there's no two ways about it. The job's not done. I've always said I had to play well this year to do it.
"In terms of points I've always said 1.5million, I think, would be the mark but it may be even more than that. Luckily for me nobody is really closing the gap massively. But my destiny is in my hands. I can't rely on anyone else.
"I'm in a much stronger position than the two previous times I've made the team. I deserve to be on that team as far as I'm concerned but I've got to prove it."
McGinley is not the only big name uncertain of his place in Ian Woosnam's team to defend the trophy from September 22-24, with Detroit team-mates Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington all outside the qualifying places.
Two weeks ago Woosnam was keen to stress that those players needed to spend more time in Europe rather than the United States in order to try to qualify, and also to increase their chances of a wild card.
Harrington seems to have taken that on board by adding the French Open in June to his schedule, and Woosnam welcomed the news.
The Welshman said: "Padraig has obviously realised he's got to get a few points. I want to get the players who have played in the Ryder Cup before automatically in. I don't want to be particularly left with having to pick some of the top players."
Another member of the record-winning team from Oakland Hills not in the qualifying positions is Darren Clarke, and the Ulsterman admits he cannot be certain of playing even if he does qualify.
His wife Heather is seriously ill as she continues her battle against cancer and Clarke would have no qualms about telling Woosnam he was not capable of playing.
"Of course I would love to be a part of it again," said Clarke, who faded to 11th in last week's British Masters after a closing 76.
"But if I don't because of circumstances you're aware of, then so be it. Even if I made the team or was picked, I still don't know if I would be able to play or not until a week, two weeks before. It isn't really high on my priorities." PA
