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Poulter would 'give left arm' for Ryder Cup berth

Antalya - Ian Poulter would give his "left arm" to compete in next year's Ryder Cup in Paris, the Englishman said on Friday from the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya.

Poulter is a veteran of five Ryder Cups since making his debut in 2004 and enjoys a remarkable record of having won 14 of 18 matches, remaining unbeaten in singles.

However, he missed out on Darren Clarke's 2016 European team through a foot injury - although he went to Hazeltine as a vice-captain - and is currently well out of contention to earn an automatic spot in Thomas Bjorn's 2018 team.

But the 41-year-old has not given up hope.

"I would give literally my left arm to play," he said ahead of the second round in Antalya.

"I mean, I want to be there, right. It's a good golf course, I've had success around that course. I'd love to be there."

The Florida-based player enjoys a good French Open record on the Le National course just outside Versailles that will host the cup, having finished third in both 2006 and 2009, while he was fourth in 2012.

But if Poulter is to qualify automatically he knows he has his work cut out given he is currently ranked only 29th on the 'World' points list, with just four of those set to qualify.

However, he is playing in the final three EPGA tournaments of the season and hoping to pick up points in those.

"I'm so far away at the minute, and the points are weighted, obviously, a little heavier second half of the season next year," he said.

"There's a lot of movement going to come next year but knowing that you're playing these three (tournaments), you know you can make a dent obviously into that.

"It's going to be hard to work out what you're going to need in terms of points this time because it's the first time they have added a bonus for in-form late in the season next year."

Poulter memorably produced a remarkable four-ball performance in 2012 at Medinah that lit the fuse for an incredible come-from-behind one-point victory for Jose Maria Olazabal's Europe to retain the trophy.

Poulter and Rory McIlroy were two-down with six holes to play before Poulter single-handedly birdied the closing five holes.

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