Poulter keen to push for greater heights

Gary Meenaghan

• Last Updated: November 22. 2009 11:13PM UAE / November 22. 2009 7:13PM GMT

Poulter has been hitting the gym to improve his game. Karl Jeffs / AP

DUBAI // Seeing his compatriots thrive alongside him on the golf courses across the world this season helped inspire Ian Poulter to what he views as being the “best year” of his career.

A blistering final round saw the 33-year-old Englishman pick up seven birdies to shoot up the standings and end the Dubai World Championships at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course on 10-under, tied for ninth place in the final standings.

“I played lovely – really, really solid,” said Poulter, who went into the turn four-under before scoring three consecutive birdies on the 13th, 14th and 15th holes to go round in just 65 strokes.

“I hit it great, no bogeys, no massive dramas and I started to roll a few putts in, so it was nice to start running up the leaderboard.”

Six of the top 10 players on the European Tour money list are from England with Lee Westwood winning the inaugural Race to Dubai yesterday and Ross Fisher finishing fourth in the quest for the rebranded Order of Merit. Poulter finished ninth.

The world No 12 says the form of close friends such as Fisher and Westwood will only act to inspire him to play better in the future.

“I think any time you see one of your mates playing good golf, it gives you a little push to play well,” he said.

“Whether it makes you feel a little jealous or makes you a bit hungrier, it’s all good.

“This has been my best year for sure though. I have been way more consistent and barely finished outside the top 20.

“Only three missed cuts for the year, so I am very happy with my game.”

Understandably, Poulter says that he is looking forward to the World Cup in China next week, where he will be paired with Fisher. “I can’t wait for the World Cup,” he said.

“Obviously I’m in good form so it’s going to be good fun.

“Ross and myself have been chatting about it for a little while now. It will be good to get there and have a couple of days rest.

“I think I will probably wait until Wednesday before going out on the course and then I will go out and have some fun and see what we can do.”

Shortly after Mission Hills tournament Poulter says he will take a break before heading to the gym in a bid to improve on what he has identified as his biggest weakness.

“I want to hit it a little further,” he conceded.

“If you look at the guys most weeks on the leaderboard, they are hitting it 295 yards and that makes it a lot easier to perform so I’ll be spending six weeks in the gym because any time I can get an extra 15 yards will be very handy.”

gmeenaghan@thenational.ae