Paul Lawrie is smart enough to know that to be contesting next September’s Ryder Cup he is going to have to perform very well over the next two weeks.

The Scot is currently outside the top-30 on both European Team qualifying points table as he seeks to contest a third Ryder Cup.

And he realises if he doesn’t win either this week’s Scottish Open or next week’s Open Championship then he has no chance of playing at Gleneagles.

“Well, my feelings are getting in, it’ll take a hell of an effort now to get in the team,” he said.

“It’ll take a hell of an effort even to impress Paul enough for a pick with where I am.  I would need to win this week or next week, I feel, to give him enough of a headache to think am I worth the third pick.

“But you know, I’m not saying it can’t happen.  If you’re the winner next week, it would be tough for them to leave you out.

Paul Lawrie says he will need to win a second Open Championship to have a real chance of competing in the Ryder Cup. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)

“So that’s in the back of my mind, obviously.

“But there’s a long way to go before September and Paul makes his picks.  But I played against him yesterday, and he was very honest, you know.  He said that I’m sure you’d have liked more points than you’ve got on the board.  But I think he said with my pedigree you could easily pop up and win this week or next week, which is a nice thing for him to say.

“So I’ll be going all out still.  I’m not giving up on it.  You never ever give up when you’re competitive in what you do.  You give 110 percent every day.  But it would be a futile effort now to get on the team.  So my window is closing.”

And if Lawrie should not qualify automatically then he is hopeful to be involved in the Gleneagles team and joining fellow Scot Sam Torrance as one of McGinley’s four vice-captains.

“I’ve read that a little bit, but again, Paul’s been very clear as he announced Sam Torrance and Des Smyth pretty early on,” said Lawrie.

“And he said that the remaining two would come from people who are still playing and still competitive and still trying to get on the team, which is probably where my name has maybe cropped up.

“But there’s been no chat from Paul to myself about vice captain.  He’s made it very clear that he would like me to play on the team, as I’m sure he says to everyone.

“And then if I don’t get on the team, then we’ll wait and see if he kind of makes the call and asks me to do it.  But if I don’t make the team, whatever job he wants me to do is not a problem.  I think every member of the tour would kind of support that.”