Poulter aiming for US Open spot

ENGLAND’S Ian Poulter is aiming to cement his place in next month’s US Open with a win in the European PGA Championship, which starts at Wentworth today.

Poulter, ranked 81st in the world, needs to get into the top 60 of the rankings by June 12 – or win this tournament – to reserve his place at Erin Hills in the season’s second major, or face heading to qualifying.

The 41-year-old’s confidence is high after finishing second at the Players Championship.

That runners-up spot stopped a slump which had seen Poulter fall to 204th in the rankings and gave him hope that he could sort out his immediate future this week.

Masters champion Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy are missing this week but Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Danny Willett are all on parade, along with defending champion Chris Wood.