McDowell on Ryder mission

Graeme McDowell will be restricted to a spectator this weekend

Portrush star Graeme McDowell tells BBC Sport that missing out on a Ryder Cup place has made him more determined to make the European team for 2008.

Graeme McDowell will be merely a face in the crowd when the Ryder Cup starts at the K Club on Friday morning.

Watching from behind the rope will be a stark reminder of his failure to make the European side to face Tiger and his American team-mates.

To make a Ryder Cup debut on home soil would have been a career pinnacle for the 27-year-old from Portrush.

McDowell looked good to fulfil that ambition when he chalked up two European Tour wins early in his professional career.

But that early promise has given way to inconsistent form and the Ulsterman was never in contention to make Ian Woosnam's side.

"To make the Ryder Cup was my goal setting out a year or so ago but things have not gone according to plan," said McDowell.

"I decided to play in the United States at the start of the year but I got off to a bad start technically and was not swinging it well.

"I was low on confidence by the time I got back to Europe.

"I made mistakes in scheduling, played a lot of golf and was really burnt out towards the end."

McDowell's inconsistency was cruelly exposed at the Open in July - leader after the first round but a 79 on Sunday left him tied for 61st.

However, his positive attitude towards the game remains a virtue and this will not be a weekend filled with regrets.

Indeed, McDowell's focus is not on the upcoming showdown in Kildare but instead the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla in Kentucky.

The European side is so strong from the rookies through to the experienced guys Graeme McDowell

"I am obviously disappointed not to be playing at the K Club but I have learnt a lot," added the former Walker Cup winner.

"It has made me more up for it for two years time and I've already set things in place to get in that team.

"I'm getting back to Europe next year and I need to get back to winning ways again.

"Missing out this time has certainly made me more hungry to get in the side."

For this weekend McDowell will have to be content with being among the "40,000 Irishmen going bananas" at the K Club.

Not surprisingly he is tipping the Europeans to complete a hat-trick of Ryder Cup triumphs.

"The European side is so strong from the rookies through to the experienced guys," he said.

"The Irish trio of Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington have great Ryder Cup records and I would love to be joining them.

"There is the added dimension of Darren returning after Heather's passing - he might just be the real catalyst to the side and the fans, bringing everyone together for the week.

"I will be very surprised if we don't win this week.

"The Europeans have it on paper and everyone will be playing for Heather."

Interview taken from Ireland's Ryder Cup, to be shown on Wednesday night at 2235 BST on BBC1 NI.