Poulter targets second win in a row buoyed by backing of greats

Ian Poulter begins his campaign to win back-to-back World Golf Championship events today spurred on by the well-wishes of some of the game's biggest names. Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and even Colin Montgomerie contacted Poulter after he became the first Englishman to win a WGC event at the Accenture Match Play in Tucson last month.

"When Arnie sends you a letter to saying 'congratulations, well played' it can't really get better than that," said the world No 5 on the eve of the CA Championship.The text from Montgomerie, Europe's Ryder Cup captain, was also welcome, not least because the pair have had their differences.

Poulter is a certainty to face the US in October and plainly feels a weight has been lifted. "I can have fun and I've never had that mindset in a Ryder Cup year before," he said. Poulter could become the top-ranked European on Sunday.