Jamie Donaldson has already got a year of firsts to look forward to – but it hasn’t stopped him eyeing a Ryder Cup debut in 2014.

Donaldson, from Macclesfield, has already broken new ground this year, earning entry into the World Match Play and the World Golf Championship at Doral. And there’s more to come with Donaldson set to make his first Masters appearance next month and debut at the US Open in June.

But it’s not stopped the world number 33 looking ahead to Gleneagles and Europe’s defence of the trophy they won in dramatic fashion at Medinah last year.

The countdown to the Ryder Cup begins officially at Augusta, when the first points will be on offer for prospective members of Tom Watson’s United States team.

The Europeans won’t start accumulating points until the Wales Open in August, but it’s never too early to start giving captain Paul McGinley a nudge.

“It would be awesome to play a Ryder Cup in Scotland, because it’s the home of golf isn’t it?,” said Donaldson, who will fly to America next week to begin his Masters preparation at the Texas Open.

“To play in any Ryder Cup would be fantastic. It’s always in the back of your mind.

“At the end of the day, I’d have to win twice at least in that period from when the points start. It’s in your own hands.”

Donaldson is hoping to get more match play practice under his belt later this year when the Seve Trophy is staged in October. It’s much needed according to the 37-year-old, who revealed it had been so long since his last match play event that he had ‘forgotten how to do it’ when he arrived at the World Match Play last month.

He fell at the first hurdle, being knocked out by Thorbjorn Olesen.

“I’ve not really played that much match play,” he said.

“I went to the World Match Play a few weeks ago and I’d forgotten how to do it.  It was difficult because you forget. I need to play more and more match play as preparation for events like the Ryder Cup.”

Donaldson was part of the Great Britain and Ireland team which defeated Continental Europe 15.5-12.5 the last time the Seve Trophy was contested in 2011. Captained by McGinley – who will lead Europe at Gleneagles – he played alongside Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, who went on to star in the ‘Miracle of Medinah’.

“It’s awesome preparation for the Ryder Cups and great experience for match play,” said Donaldson.

“Paul captained the Seve Trophy team that I played in last time when we won.

“He was a brilliant captain. I played well and I was unbeaten in the pairs with Simon Dyson and Robert Rock.

“It was awesome, I would like to play more match play.”