Graeme McDowell is hoping that a positive showing at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship will help him to gain a place in Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup team.

The Northern Irishman has just over six months to impress the skipper and is desperate to avoid the wildcard route into the team.

The 30-year-old's next step begins on Wednesday when he takes on Luke Donald in the opening round at the Arizona course.

McDowell is hoping his previous failures at the event are a thing of the past and he is ready to turn his individual record around this week.

He said: "I've had three first-round exits and a second-round exit in this tournament, so that's not great. For a guy who rates himself a good match-play player, which I do, I haven't had a run in this yet.

"I don't know whether it's because it's early in the season and my game hasn't been in the best shape coming in here, but this time I'm feeling as good as I've felt in a long time at this stage of the year."