Ian Poulter confident of better showing in The Open Championship at Hoylake

The 38-year-old has been passed fit to play in the third major of the year after an MRI scan revealed a wrist injury sustained in the Scottish Open last week was not serious.

Poulter endured a miserable Open at Hoylake eight years ago, but has learned from that experience as he attempts to win his first major on the same course.

He said: "I know my golf game has changed in those eight years.

"I think I'm more equipped. I think I understand links golf better. I"m a more experienced player on links golf now and with the record I've got in The Open I feel comfortable hitting certain shots, taking certain shots on and being aggressive where I need to.

"You just have to have a good game plan and stick with it and don't do anything silly.

"I've erased all of the memories of 2006. I really don't pay any attention to missed cuts. I get rid of them. I detest them and I erase them. It's a totally different golf course.

"It played really firm and fast. It's not quite as firm and fast this year, so I treat this week as a new week, albeit as a course that I've played."