Poulter: Open near-miss

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Ian Poulter is determined to play his way into Europe's Ryder Cup team and not rely on a wildcard from captain Nick Faldo.

The Englishman surged into Ryder Cup contention with his second-place finish at the Open Championship and is just outside the places for automatic selection.

But he insists he is good shape to qualify and will not need one of Faldo's 'picks' to play at Valhalla in September.

"Certainly if I play like I played last week in the next couple of tournaments, then I should make the side," Poulter told Sky Sports News.

"If I just play solid, I should have a great chance. I want to make the side on merit. I don't want to get a pick - I don't want to have to rely on Nick to choose me."

Poulter's runner-up finish to Padraig Harrington at Royal Birkdale rocketed him up to seventh on the Ryder Cup world points list - the top five make the team.

"I have said it time and time again that I feel I can perform and it is just a matter of time," he added. "But it is nice to actually go out there and do it and prove I can play golf with the best now."

Tiger Woods will be absent from the American team due to injury and will miss his first Ryder Cup since 1995. Woods' record in the matches is mediocre by his high standards (he has won 10 series and lost 13), but Poulter insists the world number one will be missed.

"It will be an advantage," he said. "Any side without the world number one is going to be weaker. However, you look at his record in Ryder Cup, albeit that is not what he would like, you would still miss him. You would put him head-to-head against anyone in the world and he is probably going to beat them."

Poulter played in the Ryder Cup the last time it was staged in America - at Oakland Hills in 2004 - but missed out on selection at the K Club two years ago.