Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter is staring at the likelihood of ending the year not being exempt into next year’s Masters.
Poulter is currently ranked 44th in the world and that’s just six spots from being exempt into the four Majors, the four WGCs and other benefits that come with being a top-50 world ranked player.
Poulter has remained inside the top-50 on the rankings since capturing the 2006 Madrid Masters and the eighth of a dozen European Tour titles for the Lake Nona based Brit.
If Ian Poulter looks he would notice he’s currently 44th on the World Rankings. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
He peaked at No. 5 in the world twice in his career, firstly in capturing the 2010 WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship and then a few months later in sharing 10th place at the Masters.
However a number of injuries this season, including jarring his wrist in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, has seen Poulter slip to 44th and the likelihood, if he’s not inside to the top-50 at at December 31st, of failing to earn a Masters invitation for a first time since 2007.
And while Poulter has always prided himself on knowing his World Ranking as he boasted in his new book ‘No Limits’, the 38-year confessed in Shanghai, and venue for this week’s WGC – HSBC Champions, he had no knowledge of his ranking.
“I know I am lying in the mid to high 40s but it pisses me off my ranking has slipped,” said Poulter.
“I’ve had three injuries this year and I’m angry. I’m angry that I’ve put myself in the situation to injure myself not once but twice, and then unfortunate I guess to have a wrist jar at the Scottish Open.
“All in all I am annoyed that it happened and I’m annoyed I wasn’t able to take the time off as I am playing two schedules as I really needed two months off but you just can’t do that in that March/April time as it’s impossible.”
Poulter was commenting after posting a two under par 70 on the opening day of the $US 8.5m event that left him trailing three shots behind fellow winning Gleneagles colleague, Graeme McDowell.
