GOLF/TEE TO GREEN:My much-needed R and R break is now over, during which time I've been resetting my goals for the rest of the season and it won't come as any surprise that the Ryder Cup and the Race to Dubai are my main targets, writes GRAEME MCDOWELL

WHEN PEOPLE see that you’re playing 28 tournaments, they assume you have the other 24 weeks off.

It doesn’t work like that, because – even if you’re not competing – your mind is always ticking over and there is always some part of your game that you’re working on.

So, the past week and a half, during which time I’ve recharged the batteries and barely touched a golf club, has been totally relaxing.

I think it was December since I last managed to take such a break, and this one was badly needed.

A lot has obviously happened since my US Open win at Pebble Beach and, when I got to the US PGA at Whistling Straits, I was just not myself. I was tired, my mental and emotional energy spent.

I’ve been able to relax here at my house in Lake Nona in Florida and even managed to take off for a few days to the Albany resort in the Bahamas to lie on a beach . . . and, all in all, it’s been a relaxing time.

In fact, my time here in Lake Nona coincided with the foundations being laid for the construction of my new house, which was exciting.

It’s been great to be involved in the design process and to be on site when the ground was broken and the foundations poured.

It sort of took me back to my engineering days in college.

The facilities in Lake Nona are fantastic. My villa backs on to the driving range which is literally 20 yards away and I can be in the cart with all my stuff and be hitting balls within 20 seconds.

I only started hitting some balls again on Sunday, chipping and putting mainly and concentrating on yardages from 30 to 80 yards and mainly working on finesse.

That’s the first time I hit balls since I got back here.

Horizon Sports do a great job in filtering stuff and all media requests were kept to the absolute minimum for the past few weeks.

We wanted to keep things as low key as possible and, apart from doing something with a Sky Sports film crew for part of their Ryder Cup ad campaign, I was able to purposely use the time to relax, unwind and to look ahead towards the rest of the year.

I’ve been resetting my goals for the rest of the season and it won’t come as any surprise the Ryder Cup and the Race to Dubai are my main targets.

I’m playing in Austria next week just to get some golf under my belt with the aim to get to Celtic Manor in as good a shape as I can. I want to go there to play well – and to win!

Of course, I watched Colin Montgomerie’s wild-card announcement live on the Golf Channel.

I was very keen to see what would happen and, if I’m honest, I was surprised Paul Casey didn’t get a pick.

I felt in my heart that Rosie (Justin Rose) was going to miss out, which was hugely disappointing for him given the year he’s had in America.

Monty was in an impossible position with five, six or seven guys deserving of picks and I do believe Edoardo Molinari forced his hand by winning in Gleneagles. But the way the guy has played all season, he deserved his pick.

The controversial one, in my opinion, was Pádraig Harrington over Casey.

It was a speculative call. Paul’s a strong player and long and would be very suited to Celtic Manor.

But, then, you can’t overlook how good Pádraig is. He’s a very strong character and the type of player that’s needed on a team.

As Monty said, he’s going to scare any American who has to play him and I’m sure he’ll be ready to go and raise his game for the match.

From a purely selfish point of view, it is great to have three Irish players on the team.

After the Ryder Cup, I’ll be focusing in on the Race to Dubai.

This is one of the best opportunities I’ll have to win the Order of Merit and I’m pretty much going to play everything from the Andalucian tournament to give it my best shot.

Now that my R and R break is over, I’m really getting back into my routine this week.

I’ve a few days in San Diego this week – and I’ll definitely be using the Callaway testing facility while I’m there – and, then, I’m flying home for some other engagements which includes an appearance on the Late, Late Show on Friday night and then attending the People of the Year awards on Saturday.