Ryder Cup spot a top priority for Poulter

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - British Open runner-up Ian Poulter has set his sights on securing a Ryder Cup place with strong performances on the PGA Tour over the next two weeks.

The Englishman lies outside the automatic top 10 in the European Cup standings and needs to shine at this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the Aug. 7-10 PGA Championship, the final major of the year.

"The next two weeks are really important to play good golf," the 32-year-old told reporters at Firestone Country Club on Wednesday.

"Not only do I earn points on our (the European Tour's) order of merit list but I also earn points on the world list and that can help me on both sides."

Poulter lies seventh in the Ryder Cup world points standings and 12th in the European points table.

The top five players from the world points list on Aug. 31 automatically qualify for Nick Faldo's team, with the next five advancing from the European points list. Faldo will then add two captain's picks to compete the 12-man team.

"There are so many different permutations at the minute, not just for me but for Nick to see his players play well in the next few weeks," added Poulter, who made his only Ryder Cup appearance for Europe at Oakland Hills in 2004.