Poulter - hoping to mount serious challenge

Ian Poulter is hoping to have recovered fully from a slight thigh injury to mount a challenge for the USPGA at Baltusrol this week.

The 29-year-old finished eight shots off Tiger Woods at the Open in St Andrews last month but has struggled in majors during his career.

Poulter admits the injury was a setback but is pleased with the practice he has managed.

"I was doing a practice routine the other day, my legs were getting a little bit too wide so I was using a little training aid to hold my legs closer together," Poulter said.

"I had a strain at the top of my thigh, the muscle which joins there and the stomach muscles, and it seemed to be pretty painful for two or three days.

"So that was on my first day of practice. I didn't practice the week before last, I had a whole week off, tried to relax, come back, and to hit 20, 30 balls and tore some ligaments, I think.

"It set me back a couple of days, but the swing is looking good. I've done some good practice the last couple of days."

Despite being unfamiliar with the Baltusrol course, Poulter is looking forward practising for the first time in preparation for the last major of the season.

He added: "I don't know too much about this golf course to be perfectly honest with you.

"This is going to be my first practice round this morning. I've read some reports that the golf course is in fantastic shape.

"The rough is up and the fairways are 25 yards wide. So, when you've got a par five at 650 yards and you've got a 25-yard wide target, don't miss the fairway because you're going to be struggling.

"I'll be in a lot better position come Wednesday to make some more reports on how tough the golf course is."