Poulter primed for Jumeirah Golf Estates attack

Ian Poulter has set his sights on winning the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai after claiming his second WGC title in the WGC-HSBC Champions in China. The Englishman, who also won the 2011 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, rose from 13th to fourth in The Race to Dubai and knows his typical end-of-season good form will give him every chance of triumphing in The European Tour’s season finale on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estate in two weeks’ time.

“To move to fourth in The Race to Dubai is lovely news,” said Poulter. “I will now have a week off with the family at home, then I am going to defend in Australia before heading to Dubai where I will be trying to win the event and finish as high up in The Race to Dubai as possible.

“I don’t know what it is about this time of the year. I seem to perform very well at the end of the year. I have won in Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong and now China at a WGC, so it would be good to add Dubai to that list.

“It (Earth) is a golf course that I like very much and have obviously played very well on in the past so it will be nice to go there in very good form and see if I can pick up that trophy.

“I think I always come into this time of the year very focussed and I always try to take a little break in September/October before playing these big events and it seems to refresh me a little bit and really focus on the end of the season.”

Poulter had two weekend rounds of 65 to pip Jason Dufner, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and Scott Piercy to the title at Shenzen Golf Club.

“To win another event, another WGC, against such a strong field is very satisfying,” the 36 year-old added. “I took a lot from The Ryder Cup and I am pleased with the way I have performed and got my mind back on the day job, which is winning golf tournaments.”

Poulter is no stranger to the Earth course having finished runner-up to Robert Karlsson after losing a controversial play-off in 2010 – the Englishman saw his chances dashed when he inadvertently dropped his ball marker on to his ball while on the 18th green resulting in a penalty that ultimately ended his chances.

But after three appearances in the end of season finale, he is the fourth highest earner in the history of the event and will start as one of the favourites when the top 60 in The Race to Dubai come together at Jumeirah Golf Estates from 22-25 November.

World Number One Rory McIlroy still leads The Race to Dubai from Peter Hanson in second place with just three tournaments remaining before the final line-up for the $8 million DP World Tour Championship is decided.