Poulter Sets Sights On Major After WGC Win

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Currently riding high after his second WGC win, Ian Poulter is hoping to finally break his major duck in 2013.

The fiery Englishman credited the confidence he picked up at the Ryder Cup for his victory at the WGC Champions event in China and now wants to kick-on in 2013.

“It’s been an amazing five or six weeks with the Ryder Cup and then coming here in good spirits,” Poulter said. “I played well last week and took a lot from that. I knew that if I stayed patient I’d be right there at the end.

“I feel confident with the putter right now. It’s so nice to get my hands on another trophy and get back in the winner’s circle.”

Despite his form in the most high-profile events the 36-year-old has yet to win a major championship, something he is desperate to rectify in 2013. He added: “Two world championships are great, of course, but a major is the biggest dream.

“People keep asking all the time ‘when, when, when’. I don’t know when and I’m trying really hard – I’ll do my best next year.”

His reward for victory at Mission Hills is a rise in the world rankings from 26 to 15, while Rory McIlroy remains at world number one.

Poulter took the victory thanks to overturning a four shot deficit with a closing 65, including two vital sand saves in the final four holes. “The putt at the 15th was huge,” said Poulter of the 20-footer he made for a birdie.

A less than perfect bunker shot at the last left him a testing 10-footer, which fully deserved his trademark fist-pump when it rolled in, leaving him on 21-under-par, two clear of Phil Mickelson, Jason Dufner, Scott Piercy and Ernie Els.

“I’ve been confident with my putter all year,” said Poulter, who went on to explain how he and his team had talked long and hard about how he could bring his match-play instincts to bear in stroke play. “We decided I had to be fresh for each week, know the course inside out and go out there and be aggressive.”

Poulter’s preparation also included some media work with sponsors HSBC, including an interview with new TG columnist Andrew Cottter, sharing his best bunker tips and trying his hand at making noodles from scratch.

On the course, Poulter also interacted with the locals, asking them to desist from using their mobile phones and cameras over the weekend, but he never got too uptight about the situation.

“I thought I was saying ‘No cameras please’ in Chinese but, to be honest, I wasn’t sure what I was saying. I think I made them laugh more than anything,” joked Poulter.

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