Golf: Poulter has his sights set on Tiger's tail

IAN POULTER has not yet thought about what he will say when he next sees Tiger Woods, but he would love it to be: "I'm number two now."

Poulter was laughed at in some quarters when he dared to suggest two years ago that he had the talent to reach second in the world behind Woods.

But the 34-year-old could move to a career-high fifth by making the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona on Sunday. And the chances of that happening are good. He and Paul Casey are the only top-10 seeds left in after the opening two days.

To progress to the quarter-finals, Poulter must beat Indian Jeev Milkha Singh today while, in the other half of the draw, Casey, runner-up last year and now the favourite for the title with holder Geoff Ogilvy out, will face little-known American Brian Gay.

There are four Englishmen in the last 16, but one of the others has to go out because Luke Donald and Oliver Wilson – conqueror of fourth seed Rory McIlroy yesterday – play each other.

Poulter, seeded ninth, is taking a keen interest in how high he can go by taking the title. "I've had a good look and been punching numbers on my iPhone to know exactly," he said. "It would be a nice position – I'd be very happy." Poulter was speaking after adding Adam Scott's scalp to that of Justin Leonard in the first round.

Winning 2&1 he commented: "It was never going to be an easy match. I don't think any of the these matches are, whether you're number one seed or 64."

Casey has had a comfortable passage so far, knocking out Canadians Stephen Ames and Mike Weir by 5&4 margins. With possibly 36 holes tomorrow and Sunday he stated: "It's always about conserving energy, especially the legs."

Lee Westwood, the highest-ranked of them all at world No.4, has still to go beyond the second round of the event after losing to American Nick Watney.

But Westwood's point before the start about English golf not getting the credit it deserves was backed up by Wilson.

The Mansfield golfer, still chasing his first professional victory despite having a Ryder Cup cap, stated: "I think Lee's definitely got a point.

"We're only a small country and to have nine in the event is fantastic – a great achievement."