Donald is keen to play in the Ryder Cup - but does not want to uproot

Team members must play in 11 European tour events, but Donald is unlikely to do that as he is based in America.

If Donald was ranked in the world's top 50 by the end of the month he would need to play in just six European events - but he is currently 85th.

"Unless I do extremely well in the next two weeks, it's going to be extremely hard for me," said Donald.

Donald, currently trailing leader Tiger Woods by five shots at the Wachovia Championship in Carolina, will automatically qualify for five of the 11 events if he makes the top 50 by the end of the month.

"If I can get in the next three majors and two World Championships events, that would give me five and I'd have to figure out somewhere to play six more," added Donald.

On Friday, Sweden's Jesper Parnevik told European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer he was ruling himself out of contention because of the 11-event rule.

The European Ryder Cup policy board invoked the 11-event minimum rule to encourage its players to support their home tour.

But with more and more Europeans focusing on the PGA Tour, the European Tour seems in danger of cutting off its nose to spite its face.

"I would love to play in the Ryder Cup, but I've made my home in the States now and I don't think it would make sense to uproot myself," said Donald.

This year's Ryder Cup takes place from 14-19 September in Michigan.