Tuesday 16 May 2017 13:55, UK
Ian Poulter has confirmed that he has accepted an invite to compete in next week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Poulter will look to build on his superb performance at The Players Championship as he makes his first appearance at Wentworth since 2014, and he is looking forward to seeing the new-look West Course following its extensive renovation over the last year.
The 41-year-old enjoyed his best finish of the year at TPC Sawgrass just three weeks after he thought he had lost his PGA Tour card, and his share of second propelled him to 58th in the FedExCup standings after starting the week ranked 136th.
Poulter admitted afterwards that he was keen to play a number of European Tour events this summer, and he will join the likes of Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose in a star-studded field for the first of seven Rolex Series tournaments.
"For me, to have played well last week and locked up everything in America has now freed my summer up and meant I can come back and play in some of the big events in Europe, which I'm really looking forward to," said Poulter.
"Everyone on the European Tour has been incredibly supportive and that has helped me be free and clear on what I needed to do in my own mind.
"I would have loved to have won last week, and it's still a disappointment not to have got that win, but the result means I can come back over and play in the BMW PGA Championship, and plan my summer schedule, and it will obviously be great to play in front of the British fans again.
"My form is good - I don't feel like I've got a lot out of my game over the last few weeks - but I've been working hard and hopefully the results will follow."
Poulter has been reluctant to play at Wentworth in recent years as he was not a fan of the greens, but all 18 have been replaced at the revamped West Course in a huge project overseen by Ernie Els, Paul McGinley and current Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn.
"I'm looking forward to seeing the changes that have been made at Wentworth," added Poulter. "Everything the guys - Thomas, Paul - have done to improve the course makes me want to jump back on a plane to the UK. It's just what I need - the chance to come back to Britain and play some golf and enjoy it.
"It seems the changes they have made are what the West Course deserves and it is going back to its rightful self, so respect to the club, to the European Tour and to the guys involved for making those changes and I'm sure the players will enjoy playing it next week."
