Wednesday 7 October 2015 17:15, UK
Ian Poulter is determined to rediscover his "killer instinct" this week as he bids to end a winless run of almost three years at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports.
The tournament host is looking forward to teeing up at his home club of Woburn, where he finished runner-up to his close friend Justin Rose after a thrilling final-day duel in 2002.
Poulter has had four top-10 finishes worldwide this season, and he looked primed to win the Honda Classic in Florida in March until his game deserted him on the back nine and a 74 left him one shot behind eventual winner Padraig Harrington, and Daniel Berger.
The 39-year-old is now looking to be more ruthless when in contention, and he believes he can make a start over the Marquess Course this week.
"It's hurt a lot," Poulter said of his winless streak. "I'm not getting any younger and the guys are getting younger and better. It's been difficult and that's hard to take as someone that has pride in himself, in winning a lot of consecutive years in a row.
"But the only way of dealing with that properly is going out there and win. I need to do that. I expect myself to do that and I would expect myself to do that pretty soon.
"I feel certain areas of my game have let me down. I lost by a shot (in the Honda) and dropped seven shots in three holes. I've had my chances and I've kind of thrown them away. So I need to get the old me back and I need to be a bit more ruthless and I need to have that killer instinct out on the golf course."
Still major hope
Poulter has also been hampered by several niggling injuries over the last two years and will turn 40 in January, but has not given up hope of claiming a first major title.
"Obviously the older you get, the more difficult it is going to be to stay in shape, so I have to keep continuing to work hard at that," he added. "We have seen major champions in their forties, although not very many, and you saw Tom Watson almost win the Open at 59. There is hope out there.
"My game when I'm on my game is good enough to beat anybody. I know that. I still believe that, and that's the main thing. Inside my head, I still believe that my good is good enough and the minute that gets dented, then we've got an issue."
Poulter's spirits have also been lifted by the news that his mother, Theresa, has been discharged from hospital after a three-week stay.
He said: "The one big spark for me is that my mum comes out of hospital - she had an aneurysm and was in there for three weeks - so things have got a lot better. So I'll be very happy and I can go out there and concentrate and do my job on the course."
