Poulter Withdraws from Johnnie Walker Championship to Play in U.S.

Ian Poulter has advised the European Tour of his decision to withdraw from the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. The decision was a difficult one as the Johnnie Walker was Poulter's last opportunity to qualify for the European Ryder Cup team.

But because Poulter missed the cut in the first FedEx Cup playoff event last week in The Barclays, playing Gleneagles rather than the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston this week would mean he'd be unable to qualify for the final two FedEx Cup playoff events, the BMW Championship and Tour Championship.

In announcing his decision to stay in the U.S., Poulter issued the following statement: "It has been an extremely difficult decision to take given my burning desire to represent Europe again in defending the Ryder Cup in the United States.

"But the fact that Boston this week is my only opportunity to qualify for the final two playoff events as well as being my final opportunity to play my 15 events on the PGA Tour conflicts with my ambition to play Gleneagles and earn my spot in the Team. I have called Nick Faldo and told him of my decision and hope that my performance so far this year will earn one of his two wild card picks.

"The Captain's picks are a nightmare, and not a position I would have wanted, where I need one, but we do know that Nick will do the right thing and I will be playing as hard as I can this week to add to my year and hopefully earn one."