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Poulter admits Rose major motivation

Ian Poulter and Justin Rose made a solid partnership at the Ryder Cup © PA Photos

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Ian Poulter has admitted he has set about improving his game in a bid to win a maiden major championship, after being inspired by his fellow Englishman Justin Rose's victory at the US Open.

Rose triumphed by a two strokes at Merion last month to become England's first major winner since Sir Nick Faldo in 1996, and Poulter believes it is all the motivation he needs.

"The question was asked for years and years and years: 'When is one of your guys finally going to break through?'," Poulter told Sky Sports. "I'm hoping Justin's win at the US Open stops that question and opens the door for the other guys to come through and show the hard work we've put in over the last decade can really pay off and back up the victories that Faldo had all those years ago.

"It's obviously nice to see your friend do it but it gives you a kick up the backside as well. You see him do it; you want to do it as well."

Poulter's next shot at a major victory is the Open Championship at Muirfield, which starts on July 18, and the last time the Open was held at the East Lothian course in 2002, Poulter finished in a tie for 50th place.

• The Open Championship will tee-off on July 18 and ESPN will have all the news, views and features from Muirfield - along with an in-depth GolfCast from all four rounds.

When asked which of the four major championships he would prefer to win, Poulter said: "If there was one over all the others, I think to have my name etched on the Claret Jug would be a pretty good one to have it on."

He added: "I can take the good things out of Muirfield 11 years ago. I was top ten going into Saturday I believe, I played in front of Tiger [Woods] and [Mark] O'Meara and we all remember what happened on that Saturday: we all got blown off the golf course.

"I like the course, I can remember a good chunk of it and I can also reflect on the good Opens I've had as well so I'd like to think my game is just tuning up nicely.

"I love links golf. I love taking some of the hybrids out of the bag and putting the long irons back in for the shot-making and running up onto some of those greens.

"It's about taking my chances. You can throw the yardage book away at times and actually play it from feel and visual rather than actually pull a number. You know, 120 yards, seven-iron shot it doesn't sound right but you just have to feel shots in those difficult conditions and that comes from practice and playing links golf and pulling on the shots that you've hit in the past."

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