Poulter keen to make debut at seasonending event

Ian Poulter is targeting a lucrative first appearance in the season-ending Tour Championship after continuing his renaissance in the US PGA Championship.

After playing just 13 tournaments last year due to a foot injury, Poulter had 10 events this season to earn enough FedEx Cup points or money to retain a full PGA Tour card.

He came up short in both categories after missing the cut in the Valero Texas Open in April but American Brian Gay, who was also playing on a medical exemption after back problems, then alerted officials to a discrepancy in the points structure used for players competing in that category.

Poulter made the most of his reprieve by finishing second in the Players Championship on his next start and has not missed a halfway cut since, finishing 14th in the Open at Royal Birkdale and 22nd at Quail Hollow.

Such performances have lifted the 41-year-old from outside the world’s top 200 earlier this year to 58th, while he is 46th in the FedEx Cup standings.

The top 30 after the first three play-off events – which get under way next week – qualify for the Tour Championship in Atlanta, where a $10 million bonus is on offer for the overall winner.

“From the start of the season to where I stand right now is miles apart, from a mental standpoint, from a playing standpoint,” Poulter said.

“I feel like kind of the old me is back, which is nice. I can be aggressive.

“This week was a disappointment. I’m walking away needing a break, needing a bit of a rest and to refresh for the play-offs.

“I’ve never gone right the way through the play-offs properly.

“I’d like to do that this time around, which would be ironic, compared to how I was standing four months into the season.”

Ian Poulter has enjoyed a renaissance in 2017.