Ian Poulter sets sights on the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship
After winning the World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions last week, Ian Poulter now aims a victory at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, slated to start from November 22, 2012.
The tournament will be played at the Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth course in Dubai, featuring the top-60 players in the European Tour’s money list.
Poulter’s victory at the Mission Hills Golf Club was the Englishman’s second WGC victory, having won the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship in 2010.
After winning the last of the four WGCs of the season, Poulter moved from the 13th position to the 4th spot in The Race to Dubai.
He now believes that the victory will provide him huge confidence to contend strongly in the European Tour’s season Finale.
Talking to the European Tour’s official website, he stated that he decided to take a week off following his victory, in order to spend some time with his family.
Next week, he is scheduled to participate in UBS Hong Kong Open, an event that he won in 2010 by defeating Simon Dyson and Matteo Manassero with a one-stroke margin.
Thereafter, he will fly to Dubai, with an aim to record the first victory of his career in the United Arab Emirates.
“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”.
Talking about the venue course, he said that his experience and strong track record on the Earth course will provide him advantage over his competitors, especially when he is enjoying a good form.
In 2010, he lost to Robert Karlsson in the controversial playoffs at the Earth Course. Playing the 18th hole in the final round, he conceded a penalty shot after dropping the marker on to his ball by mistake.
As a result, he had to hand over the victory to his playoff rival.
Apart from that, he is the fourth highest earner in the history of the tournament, which makes him one of the strongest contenders in UAE.
“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,” the 12-time European Tour winner said.
He also stated that every year, he enters the final tournaments of the season with a focused frame of mind.
This season, he did the same by taking some rest last month and recorded a stunning victory at the fourth and the last WGC of the season.
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