Ian Poulter among contenders in a weakened field at Sanderson Farms Championship

26 October 2016 12:23

Ian Poulter will look to take advantage of a weakened field when he continues his comeback from injury in the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Poulter was out of action for four months due to an arthritic joint in his right foot which ended his chances of qualifying for the Ryder Cup, although he was one of Darren Clarke's five vice-captains at Hazeltine as Europe suffered a 17-11 defeat to the United States.

The 40-year-old has been granted a major medical extension by the PGA Tour, meaning he has 10 events in which to earn enough money or FedEx Cup points which, when added to his total from last season, would have secured a place in the top 125.

The first of those saw Poulter finish tied for 17th in the CIMB Classic in Malaysia last week and the second takes place this week, opposite the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

With the top 50 in the world eligible to compete in China, world number 74 Chris Kirk is the highest ranked player - Poulter is 138th - at The Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi, where Peter Malnati won his first PGA Tour title 12 months ago.

Malnati, who shot a closing 67 in an event completed on Monday due to bad weather, told a pre-tournament press conference: "It feels different coming back this year.

"Last year I was in a category for graduates from the Web.Com Tour and you are left wondering how much you are going to get to play and you feel like you can never skip an event.

"Now being in the winners' category I have that luxury to be able to look at the calendar and see which events I want to play.

"I've heard that the rough is going to be thicker and longer this year and if the fairways are firm, that will create a tremendously fun challenge."

Source: PA