A “rested” Robert MacIntyre is relishing the opportunity to seal a Ryder Cup debut by securing an automatic qualifying place on Luke Donald’s European team.
MacIntyre currently holds the final qualification spot on the European Points List, with Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm having locked up the first two places.
Norway’s Viktor Hovland was the first to have his place confirmed via the World Points List on Tuesday, with this week’s ISPS Handa World Invitational the first of three qualifying events remaining.
Donald, who named Francesco Molinari as his fifth and final vice-captain on Wednesday, will then announce his six wild cards on Monday, September 4.
MacIntyre, who was cruelly denied victory in the Genesis Scottish Open last month when McIlroy birdied the final two holes, said: “I’m feeling rested and ready to go for the next five, six weeks.
“I’ve had a nice break, a nice three weeks off and I’m just ready to get going again.
“I knew winning Italy last year (at the Ryder Cup venue in Rome) was massive for the qualification and gave me a great start.
“I just had to play good golf from then on in and be there or thereabouts. Obviously, I’ve timed my run pretty nicely with the result at the Scottish Open. I have been playing good golf.
“There has been a lot going on within my team, a couple of changes here and there and back and forth. Again, just (have to) trust yourself, trust the team around you and keep going.”
Two of MacIntyre’s closest Ryder Cup rivals are also in the field for this week’s event, which is tri-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour and sees male and female players compete on the same two courses at the same time.
France’s Victor Perez is seventh on the European Points List and Spain’s Adrian Otaegui lies ninth, Perez having won the Abu Dhabi Championship in January and Otaegui claiming last year’s Andalucia Masters at Valderrama.
“At this point it really comes down to playing well these three weeks to get an automatic spot to qualify,” Perez said. “All the work has been highly centred around the Ryder Cup.
“I feel ready to go. I have showed good form in practice at home which are good signs for me.
“To have good performances you are going to need good putting. I have put a little emphasis on that. Mentally you have to want to perform. You can’t just shy away from the moment.”
Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson returns to defend the men’s title he won last year, but Sweden’s Maja Stark has opted not to contest the women’s event staged at Galgorm Castle and new co-host Castlerock Golf Club.
