Ian Poulter is keen to add his name to an illustrious list of past winners when the British Masters returns to the European Tour this week for the first time since 2008.
Poulter selected his home club of Woburn as the venue in his capacity as tournament host, a role which will be filled by fellow Englishmen Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood in the next three years.
And the Ryder Cup star wants to use home advantage to end three years without a win and get his name on the trophy alongside the likes of Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, Lee Trevino, Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie.
" The names on the trophy are all of the great players that I've followed through the years," said Poulter, who lost out in a final-round duel with good friend - and house guest for the week - Rose in 2002. "You know, you can name one after another after another.
"It's good that we've got a good field and we can put another great name on that trophy."
Poulter spends most of his time in Florida these days but used to live just a few minutes from Woburn and remembers watching Ballesteros play here on his way to victory in 1991.
" If I drove slowly, I lived probably 13 minutes away, maybe 10 if I was driving quick," joked Poulter, who is famous for his collection of Ferraris. "I used to practice on the range that we're at right now for the tournament.
"How many rounds I've played, I can't remember. It's a lot, so I do know the golf course very well. I've been part of Woburn now for 15, 16 years. I've spent a lot of time up here with the junior section and I love the place.
" It's home away from home and even though I don't get to spend as much time here any more, I really enjoy coming back up here."
Poulter's time will be in demand this week, but the 39-year-old believes he can still focus on his game as he seeks a first win since the HSBC Champions in November 2012.
"It's going to take a bit of time, but I tried to do as much as I possibly could in the summer, because I was aware that this week was going to be demanding," he added.
" I tried to reiterate a number of times that I would like to get as much stuff done early so I can do my job this week. And my job this week is obviously to win the golf tournament, and that's how I can be most effective this week.
"So we've done a lot of work in July so that I can have more time off this week and really focus on playing golf."
Source: PA
