Scotland's top golfer finally makes his debut in the European Tour's flagship event at Wentworth this week - alongside world number one Rory McIlroy.
At the age of 29 Martin Laird is still not that well-known by the golfing public on this side of the Atlantic, but after his joint runners-up finish at the recent Players Championship he arrives as the world number 31.
Despite not rejoining the tour until the start of this year, and therefore missing out on four months of Ryder Cup points, Laird is in contention for a first cap.
"It's one of the main reasons I'm back (in Europe), but it's not the only reason," said the US-based Glaswegian, who next week is best man at a friend's wedding in Scotland.
Europe's captain Jose Maria Olazabal has already been in touch with him and he hopes they find time for a chat during the week.
That should certainly be possible as they tee off only 35 minutes apart in the opening two rounds - Laird with McIlroy and Ernie Els (both for the first time), Olazabal with England's Simon Khan and Robert Rock.
"I wanted to talk to him to let him know that making the team is something I want to do," Laird said.
"I'm coming back in the summer, playing the French Open the week before the Scottish Open (plus The Open the week after that). I'm going to ask him if there's anything else I can do to improve my chances."
Laird might also care to thank Olazabal for changing the qualifying system because it has certainly helped him.
Under Colin Montgomerie's captaincy the first five automatic selections came off a world points list and the next five off the European money list.
By switching that Laird has a far better opportunity to make it on world points. He is currently 20th on the standings there, whereas on the purely European Tour table he is down at 57th.
Whether Laird keeps his Tour membership next season remains to be seen.
"I'm just thinking about this year," he said.
"Hopefully I play well enough to make that Ryder Cup team and then at the end of the year I'll evaluate and see what I want to do next year.
"I've not really thought ahead."
