Poulter: I’d give my left arm to play in the Ryder Cup

OUT of all the traumas of 2017 has come a familiar target for Ian Poulter, who stormed to the upper reaches of the Turkish Airlines Open leaderboard yesterday and then declared he is desperate to play in the Ryder Cup next year. It says plenty about Poulter’s recent change in fortunes in that he can even think about making the European Team. At world No 54 he is looking his old self again, particularly here in Antalya, where his impressive round of 66 has him sixth. Poulter clocked five birdies before saying: ‘I do want to be there next year. And I might have said that in a slightly understated fashion. I would give literally my left arm to play.’ ‘I was 207 in the world so it’s been quite a move since late April,’ he added. ‘I just need to learn how to win again, and as soon as I do, then we can move up properly.’ Poulter leads the English charge on five under, along with Eddie Pepperell. Nicolas Colsaerts, Haydn Porteous and Joost Luiten are in a three-way tie for the lead on seven under. Padraig Harrington is fourth on six under.