Changes to Wentworth convince Poulter to end boycott

IAN Poulter has followed Padraig Harrington in ending his boycott of the European Tour's flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Like Harrington, who announced his participation after practising on the new-look West Course last Friday, Poulter has stayed away the past two years because of the state of the greens. All 18 have now been changed and the European Tour money list leader, winner of the World Match Play in Tucson on February, said: "I am delighted to be playing again.

"It is a great championship and I am looking forward to checking out the modifications to the West Course which Ernie (Els) has undertaken.

"I am sure the changes will be for the better."

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First Poulter has to prove he has recovered from a knee problem suffered playing basketball. He missed last week's event in New Orleans because of it, but expects to be back for the Players Championship in Florida starting on Thursday week.

He finished runner-up there behind Henrik Stenson last year.

Last season's European No1 Lee Westwood, second to Phil Mickelson at The Masters earlier this month, is also Wentworth-bound.

The last halfway cut he missed in Europe came there last May and his last three rounds on the course were all 77s.

"They have changed it dramatically and to be honest I welcome the changes because the way I usually play on the course has meant that I have never really had a chance," said Westwood. "Any change is a good change for me and I think that we will now have an even stronger field for what is our flagship event.

"That can only be good for the tournament. I would love to win it – the world ranking points on offer are great and the prize fund is one of the biggest in the world and it is the European Tour's most prestigious event."

Fellow Englishman Paul Casey is the defending champion and he told the Tour's website: "I'm intrigued to see what Ernie's done and how the greens perform, but I know with two par 5s to finish we are going to have fun and excitement.

"Anything can happen and that's the beauty of Wentworth.

"Just stand in the middle of the first fairway and look back at the tee and that famous clubhouse and it makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck."