Poulter leads English charge to challenge Tiger for top spot

AT THE start of 2008 Paul Casey was 21st in the world, Ian Poulter 22nd and Lee Westwood 23rd – and a lot of people scoffed and laughed when Poulter said he had the game to get to number two.

Now Westwood is fourth, Poulter fifth and Casey sixth and nobody thinks it is beyond any of them to become Tiger Woods’ closest challenger on the rankings – or even take over at the top from Woods if his indefinite break from golf lasts a few more months.

Poulter is the man of the moment – on the course at least – after achieving the first US Tour victory of his career with a 3&2 victory over Casey in the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play in Arizona on Sunday.