Poulter ready to play pain game at Hoylake

Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter will play through the pain barrier in this week’s Open Championship after being assured he can take on Hoylake’s heavy rough without aggravating a wrist problem.

Poulter, who finished joint third at Muirfield last year, underwent an MRI scan on Monday but declared himself fit enough to compete after receiving the results.

The 38-year-old suffered the injury last week during the Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen, where he missed the cut by three shots after running up a triple-bogey on the final hole of his second round.