Matthew Fitzpatrick is looking to find some good form over the next few weeks and end a stellar 12 months with a debut at the Ryder Cup.
The Englishman tees it up this week at the Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play on the start of a run which sees him going full tilt to make it into Darren Clarke's team for the biennial clash at Hazeltine National Golf Club.
After a week off due to the Olympics, he will play at the D+D REAL Czech Masters and then the Made in Denmark as he looks to hold on to the final automatic qualification spot.
In 2014, Stephen Gallacher finished third at the 71° OPEN D'ITALIA Presented by DAMIANI but that did not get him over the line and he had to rely on a Captain's pick to make the victorious team at Gleneagles.
With two wins and a top ten at the Masters under his belt since October, Fitzpatrick would certainly come into consideration for similar treatment if he were to miss out, but the 21 year old does not want to leave anything to chance.
"It certainly gives perspective of how far I've come, I've got to admit," he said. "It's happened so fast that I think you almost expect it to keep going that way, and it's not true.
I've had a win this year, but in all honesty, I've not had a good year. I've had a top ten in the Masters and a win but outside of that, I've struggled a little bit - Matthew Fitzpatrick
"Made three of the four cuts in the Majors, so that's a positive, as well. I'm just slowly getting there and hopefully I'll have a good end to the season."
Fitzpatrick will come up against a man who knows a thing or two about the Ryder Cup in the shape of Thomas Bjørn in the first round at Archerfield on Thursday.
The Dane will be serving as a vice captain once again at the end of September, and Fitzpatrick - whose clubs were being driven up to East Lothian from Manchester on Wednesday after being lost in transit - is hoping to make a good impression.
"It will be an interesting day tomorrow against Thomas," he said. "I got pretty close with him the last few weeks, played with him a little bit, got a bit of advice on a few things. It will be good to play against him.
"Thomas has played plenty of Ryder Cups and he played the last one at Gleneagles. It's a good opportunity for me to make a move."
Gallacher will not be playing a second Ryder Cup this year after struggling with a wrist injury that forced him to miss The Open Championship and has limited him to just ten events this season.
The Scotsman has been back practising in the last few weeks, though, and is excited to get back to business on home soil.
"I've been practising hard for a couple weeks now, been playing a lot of golf and I've had no repercussions, so I can't wait for this week really," he said.
You still believe you can win. It's knock out - anything can happen - Stephen Gallacher
"In a way it's been great. I watched The Open and I watched Castle Stuart. I thought The Open was brilliant. it whets your appetite a wee bit when you're out. You just desperately want to get back.
"I've done everything by the book. The only thing I'm lacking is playing golf courses.
"I've had to change my technique. If I had not had to change my technique, it would have been easier. My doctor said, 'if you don't change the way you load your left wrist, you'll not be able to play'."
Gallacher faces Renato Paratore in the first round.
