Ryder Cup weighing on Poulter's mind

Ian Poulter is trying his best to put thoughts of Ryder Cup qualification out of his mind - but the issue refuses to disappear as he goes into this week's US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.

The Open runner-up followed up his strong Royal Birkdale finish with a tie for 16th at last weekend's WGC Bridgestone Invitational, sending the Englishman up to seventh on the world points list for the team and only 20,000 points behind his friend Justin Rose on the European points list.

Now Poulter has targeted a third big finish in succession at what is another big points-scoring event so he can put the matter to bed and said: "Obviously the last couple of weeks has put me in a slightly different position than what I was four weeks ago. So, yeah, I understand that I'm 20,000 euros behind Justin and about 25 world ranking points out of position on the world list."

He added: "There's no point looking at it any more. I understand where I am and I understand that these four days coming up are going to be very important.

"So I just need to play well, to be honest. It will be what will be. I can't worry about it too much. I can't keep thinking about it because it will take its toll, and I don't want to keep letting it affect my routine for this week.

"I just know what I've got to do. I can only do what I can do and that is play good golf this week. If I play well, I'll be in the side.

"If I play solid for the next four tournaments that I'm going to play, if I'm not in the side, I'm sure going to have a chance to be getting a pick. That's what I do know.

"There's just been an awful lot of talk about it and I've just got to get out there and play golf and enjoy myself. And if I do that then I'll be in the side."