The Open Championship, St Andrews, 15-18 July
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Bradley Dredge has survived one cut in five Open appearances

Bradley Dredge admits he must hit form at this week's Open Championship or his Ryder Cup dream could be over.

The Welshman has already revealed his desperation to star at Wales' first Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor and he must perform at St Andrews this week.

Dredge has led tournaments recently but failed to clinch titles and he knows that must change if he is to realise his Ryder Cup dream in his home-land.

"There is no better time to hit form for the Ryder Cup than now," he said.

Dredge has only missed two cuts in his 14 tournaments this year but as he prepares for his first major appearance this year, he is aware he has only made one cut in his eight major appearances.

The 37-year-old will tee-off his sixth Open Championship at 1225 BST on Thursday - with playing partners Scot Sandy Lyle and Koumei Oda of Japan - hoping to impress in his first Open at the home of golf.

And Dredge must be buoyed that he is St Andrews' current Old Course record holder after his 64 during the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2006.

"An Open at St Andrews is big enough as it is but a 150th anniversary and being a Ryder Cup year makes this one even more special," said Dredge.

"I'd love to be part of the Ryder Cup still and though it's going to be extremely difficult, you never know.

"My focus is not to think about it but to try and produce the golf I know I can to give myself a chance of winning a tournament.

"A win at St Andrews or a tournament after that and I'm right back in it, though I know time is running out for the Ryder Cup."

He added: "I've put myself in some good positions lately and haven't finished them off as I would have liked."

The Blackwood golfer must starting winning tournaments if he is to improve on his 31st place in the European team's Ryder Cup qualification points list for October's showpiece.

Dredge led the BMW International Open in Munich going into the final day but failed to close out a first European Tour victory for four years.

"I'm feeling good and I have been up there in tournaments," he continued.

"I've hit a little bit of form and with some better consistency and hard work, I am hopeful."

Dredge was one of 10 qualifiers for the Open that clinched their place at International Final Qualifying at Sunningdale last month.

He joins fellow countrymen Rhys Davies as the 25-year-old rookie qualified for successive Opens as he shot inside the world rankings' top 50 thanks to a tournament win and four top three finishes.

And the world number 49 hopes for a little home support as he admits he was born in Scotland.

"I'm a Welshman but I was born in Edinburgh, "said Welsh number one Davies.

"So I have some connection with the area."

Davies made his first major cut at last month's US Open at Pebble Beech and is bidding to survive for his first Open weekend.

But he insists: "The cut doesn't mean or count for anything for me, I just try and play good golf and contend to be on the leaderboard."

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