London, Aug 26: Ian Poulter's Ryder Cup ambitions were hanging in the balance on Monday after he withdrew from next week's Johnnie Walker Championship.
The Englishman choose instead to play in the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston, which leaves him relying on European team captain Nick Faldo handing him a wild card for next month's event at Valhalla.
"It has been an extremely difficult decision to take given my burning desire to represent Europe again in defending the Ryder Cup in the United States," said Poulter, who hit a hole-in-one in April's Masters at Augusta National.
The Boston event will allow Poulter the chance to qualify for the last two FedEx Cup play-off events, the BMW Championship and Tour Championship.
"The fact that Boston this week is my only opportunity to qualify for the final two play-off events as well as being my final opportunity to play my 15 events on the US PGA Tour conflicts with my ambition to play Gleneagles and earn my spot in the team," the 32-year-old said.
"I have called Nick Faldo and told him of my decision and hope that my performance so far this year will earn one of his two wild-card picks."
Poulter was part of the Bernhard Langer's Ryder Cup side which beat the US at Oakland Hills in 2004.
"The captain's picks are a nightmare, and not a position I would have wanted ... but we know that Nick will do the right thing."
He added: "I will be playing as hard as I can this week to add to my year and hopefully earn one."
Bureau Report