Boyd claimed more than �150,000 for his fourth-place finish in the Dunhill Links Championship

Northamptonshire golfer Gary Boyd has set his sights on a place in Europe's next Ryder Cup team at Medinah in 2012.

The 24-year-old climbed into Europe's top 50 in the lucrative Race to Dubai after coming fourth in the Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday.

But, although his first aim is to make November's Dubai World Championship, a trip to Celtic Manor has fuelled his desire to be a part of it himself.

"I know there's a lot of work to do between now and then," said Boyd.

"But I went along to Celtic Manor on the Friday and Saturday and took a lot from the experience.

"I know a few of the guys in the team," Banbury-born Boyd told BBC Radio Northampton. "And it was great for them to bring the cup back to Europe."

Boyd, who lives in Middleton Cheney and is attached to nearby Cherwell Edge, then went straight from Celtic Manor to Scotland to shoot 12 under for the week, five shots behind Sunday's winner Martin Kaymer.

And, on top of his second place finish at the Czech Open in August, when he lost a play-off to Ryder Cup player Peter Hanson, Boyd has now enjoyed comfortably the two biggest pay cheques of his short professional career in quick succession.

After trousering €173,710 at the Czech Open, Sunday's cheque for €174,014 took him close to earnings of £500,000 for 2010. And this season's consistency (he has made 12 of his last 18 cuts) hints at better things to come.

"It's been an unbelievable six weeks for me," said Boyd. "I've just been trying to do the same thing week in, week out.

"And obviously that's started to pay off.

"I'm setting new goals now - hopefully including Dubai at the end of the season which would be a massive bonus for me."

To make the starting line-up for Dubai on 25 November, Boyd will have to stay in the top 60 in the order of merit.

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