Paul Casey has admitted that forcing his way back into the Ryder Cup team has been on his mind as he prepares to get his campaign underway at The Masters.
The 37-year-old played in three successive Ryder Cups between 2004 and 2008, and he believes that his experience can make a difference for Europe ahead of next year's meeting with the USA at Hazeltine.
However, Casey faces a battle to play the 13 European Tour events required to be eligible for points when the race starts in August following his decision to focus on success on the PGA Tour.
"I still have to play 13 events and right now I am not in the US Open or Open or HSBC Champions at the end of the year. Playing 13 becomes difficult when you haven't played at the start of the year in the Middle East," the former world number three told reporters.
"I desperately want to be part of a Ryder Cup again. There is definitely passion and a fire there burning. Certainly one of them I felt like I was maybe denied, the others I haven't been in a position to make the team and watching Medinah and Gleneagles has been brilliant.
"What they have done has been absolutely phenomenal and I want to be part of that again and not just part of it, but a real solid team player and leader in the team room, which I know I can be. When I play my best golf I think I can certainly play that kind of role."
Casey will play alongside Webb Simpson and Hideki Matsuyama in the first two rounds at Augusta.
Callum Mulvihill
