McDowell vows to be patient

Graeme McDowell admits he "maybe chased too hard" for a Ryder Cup place last year and pledged to play a more patient game in 2017.

The 2010 US Open champion is without a win since the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in November 2015, and has slumped to 91 in the world rankings.

But, speaking ahead of this week's Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, the Portrush golfer says he is determined to return to winning ways and secure a spot in the Europe's 2018 Ryder Cup side.

"I think when I look at a year like last year, when I perhaps played a little better than my results showed," he said.

"Chasing maybe too hard coming into that Ryder Cup run a few months before the Ryder Cup Team got picked. You know, just wanting it a little too badly.

"I've just been rededicating myself the last six or eight months and mentally I think it's really, really important that I stay super patient with it.

"It may not happen this week and it may not happen next week but if I keep doing the things that I know that are going to make me the best I can be, eventually it will come."

McDowell, who qualified for four successive Ryder Cup between 2008 to 2014, admits it was hard to watch last year's contest at Hazeltine.

"I think that certainly was a big week for me to sit at home and watch that," he continued.

"It was very motivating, very inspiring. When I look to France, to 2018, a golf course [Le Golf National outside Paris] which I love, I certainly want to be there that's for sure."

"I think my focus had come back a long time before that Ryder Cup. But I think not being on that team was a reinforcement to me that I'm not doing what I want to do in the game."

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