• Ryder Cup

Poulter: I'll work my ass off to earn Ryder Cup spot

Ian Poulter kick-started the European side's 'Miracle at Medinah' in 2012 © PA Photos

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Ian Poulter has promised he will work his "ass off" to force his way onto Europe's Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles.

As things stand, Poulter is just outside the top nine automatic selection places and would need to be handed one of three wild cards from captain Paul McGinley if he were to line up against the USA in September.

Following this week's US PGA Championship at Valhalla, Poulter will have just three other small events to try and close the gap.

"I'm about 16 points behind Jamie Donaldson [in the World Points List]. The gap's not that big," said Poulter. "But it still needs to be closed. And I'll work my ass off to do that, starting with this week.

"I probably just need one really good week to get back into the automatic places - and then who knows? It could be this week."

Poulter has struggled with wrist and back injuries this year and has seen his form slump as a result.

Colin Montgomerie, who captained the European side to glory at Celtic Manor in 2010, says McGinley should ignore calls to pick Poulter purely on his performances in previous Ryder Cups.

In 2010, Poulter qualified for Montgomerie's team and earned three points from a possible four, before going unbeaten in 2012 including a run of birdies over the last five holes of his fourball match alongside Rory McIlroy that kick-started the comeback dubbed the 'Miracle at Medinah'.

"No one knows better than me what a big year this is, because the Ryder Cup really means so much to me," Poulter added. "There's nothing like it for getting the juices flowing.

"Maybe that's why my record in it is better than it is in the majors."

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