Greats give Poulter boost

Poulter (L) with Greg Norman

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Ian Poulter has expressed his delight after being contacted by three all-time golfing greats following his victory at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship last month.

Poulter's win in Arizona - where he beat Paul Casey in the final - was the first by an Englishman in a World Golf Championship event and catapulted him to a career-high of five in the world rankings.

However, while that fact and the $1.4million cheque that accompanied his triumph were certainly more than pleasing by-products, Poulter insists the greatest thrill came from the recognition he received from those he has long admired.

"Greg Norman gave me a call, Nick Faldo dropped me a line and Arnold Palmer wrote me a letter," Poulter revealed ahead of the WGC-CA Championship in which he will bid to make it two world titles out of two this season.

"I can't express how much it means. It's just so nice - Greg was just off to Asia and took time out of his schedule to call.

"And when Arnie sends you a letter to say he was watching and 'congratulations, well played' it can't really get better than that.

"I was asked the question straight after I won what it meant and I couldn't answer it, but when you have people you've admired and followed contacting you and saying the things they said it's great."

Ryder Cup fillip

Poulter also received a congratulatory text from European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie and, with a his place at Celtic Manor now all but guaranteed, the 34-year-old admits he can look forward to rest of the year with a certain freedom.

"I can have fun and I've never had that mindset in a Ryder Cup year," he continued.

"Winning such a big event so early in the year has taken the pressure off and that's massive."

It has also given him an insight into what winning a major would be like - and at next month's Masters he hopes to experience it for real.

After this week, he is playing the Transitions Championship next week, then has the two-day Tavistock Cup - widely tipped as the event at which Tiger Woods will make his comeback - and then two weeks to prepare for Augusta.

"I'm planning to go up there on the Monday and Tuesday the week before," he explained.

"That way I won't be under pressure the week of the tournament - if I don't want to play I don't have to."

Westwood back to full fitness

Another big performance this week could see Poulter become Europe's top-ranked player for the first time ever, although compatriot Lee Westwood - who is the only European currently above him in fourth - could have something to say about it.

Westwood has recovered from a right knee strain he suffered in innocuous circumstances two weeks ago and is now hoping to build on his ninth-placed finish at the Honda Classic last weekend.

"I did it pulling a pair of boots on - something as innocuous as that," Westwood said of his knee problem.

"I got in the wrong position I guess, but my trainer Steve (McGregor) came over the same afternoon and his assessment was that it would take seven to 10 days.

"I nearly didn't play last week (in the Honda Classic) and everything I did there was a big bonus."

Luke Donald did have to miss that event, but is now back in action after his wife gave birth to their first child on February 25.

Daughter Elle came a month early, weighed just over five pounds and it was over a week before she was allowed back to the couple's Chicago home.<

"Diane went for the 36-week check-up and because she had pre-eclampsia - her blood pressure was really high - the baby was induced a few hours later," he explained.

"I felt bad I couldn't play last week, but when you have a baby your responsibilities and priorities change. I'm sure the sponsors understood."