Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington admits he will be 'devastated' if he misses the cut for the European team at the Ryder Cup in October.
Harrington courted criticism earlier in the year with his decision to cut his workload and skip events like the Scottish and French Opens, and now sits in 17th place with only five weeks left to gather points.
However, the race has become such a bottleneck that if Harrington wins this week's Irish Open, he could move all the way up to sixth.
Speaking at Killarney ahead of the Open, the Dublin native described his current position as 'very perilous'.
"You've got to approach all these things in a very disciplined, orderly, professional fashion," he said.
"Tiring myself out by playing more tournaments than I should is not going to help when it comes around to September and October."
Nine players automatically qualify for the European team at the end of next month, with three wildcards added by team captain Colin Montgomerie.
Newly-appointed vice-captain Darren Clarke insists that Harrington is vital to Europe's hopes of winning back the trophy.
Speaking after the Lough Erne Challenge, where he partnered Rory McIlroy to record a one-stroke victory over Harrington and Shane Lowry, Clarke jumped to the defence of his embattled countryman.
"We need Padraig on the team. We want Padraig on the team and we all hope Padraig is on the team," he said.
Asked if he could envision a European team without Harrington, Clarke bluntly replied: "No, but I'm not the captain."
Harrington will need to make a strong showing at the Irish Open, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio and the US PGA Championship in Wisconsin if he is to have any hope of claiming a wildcard, but competition is fierce.
As it stands, an unprecedented five players in the world's top 25 - Paul Casey (9), Edoardo Molinari (17), Justin Rose (18), Harrington (19) and Henrik Stenson (23) - are in need of a wildcard.
"It's been a tough team to qualify for," Harrington admits.
"Other years, guys have got a pick with two top 10s. That's not happening this year."
"It shows that Europe is very strong at the moment and we're all jockeying to make sure our shout is heard loudest when it comes to the Ryder Cup team if we do need a pick. Maybe the key is not to be in that group."
Harrington also hit back at criticism of his form, saying suggestions he is undeserving of a spot on the team were 'startling'.
Critics have focused on Harrington's lack of recent victories - his last, at the US PGA, came two years ago. However, the 38-year-old was at great pains to point out that in the past year he has had no fewer than 14 top-10 finishes.
"Would you rather one win in the last year or 14 top-10 and no wins?" he asked.
"The public would prefer to see you win but which is the better player?"
"If I go out there this week and shoot 25-under-par and lose by a shot, am I going to be disappointed by my performance? Most of those top-10s I've had, I was in contention, I had a chance of winning."
"I was asked the other day if I got selected would I actually pull out. The inference was 'would you pull out because you're not playing well?'"
"I've had more top 10s in the last year than I've ever had in my career, so going on a guideline that most people use I've actually had the best year of my career."