CHICAGO (Reuters) - PGA Tour veteran Kenny Perry has shrugged off any criticism over his decision to skip last month's U.S. Open and next week's British Open.

All year, Perry's top priority has been to qualify for the U.S. Ryder Cup team this September and he has based his entire playing schedule for the 2008 season on that goal.

"It (criticism) kind of bothers me a little bit but I'm an independent contractor," the 47-year-old American told reporters on the eve of Thursday's opening round at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois.

"I can do whatever I want and I like being able to make the decisions I want to make. I think it's best for me and my family. If they (critics) don't like it, that's fine. They can say all they want to.

"My only goal was to make that Ryder Cup team and if I was going to play the British Open, I'd have to miss this week and this is a week I love playing," added the Kentucky native.

"I was going to have to miss Milwaukee next week, which is a tournament I've won. I've had eight top-10 finishes there."

This year's Ryder Cup is being staged for the first time at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky from September 19-21.

Perry, who lives in nearby Franklin, is eager to represent his country against Europe in the biennial competition after losing the only two matches he played on his Cup debut in 2004.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

"I felt like there's some unfinished business there and I just want to go back there to kind of close a chapter in my life there, at that golf course," the 11-times PGA Tour winner said.

"I want to celebrate in front of my home folks. If the Ryder Cup would have been anywhere else, I probably wouldn't have had this kind of year because I wouldn't have been that motivated to make that team.

"I've really never set a lot of goals in my life and January 1st of this year, I set a goal of making the Ryder Cup team. I wrote it down, and you know what, I made it happen.

"In the past I've always tried to win a major and I couldn't do it. Now I don't really worry too much about it any more. At this stage in my career it's just not a goal of mine. It's enjoying the ride."

Perry, the hottest golfer on the PGA Tour for the last two months with two victories in his last four starts, accepts he may feel self-imposed pressure at Valhalla.

"I told my wife, you've got to be careful what you ask for," he said. "It could be the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me; it could be a very devastating week if I play poorly, if I can't handle the pressure.

"But I think with my age and my experience, I'm going to enjoy it. I think the crowd is going to be on my side and I think I'll have all the momentum. I really believe it's going to be a great week."

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Justin Palmer)