Poulter hopes to cement Ryder spot in France

Ian Poulter was involved in two chases today - one to catch South African Darren Fichardt at the French Open, the other to improve his hopes of a Ryder Cup debut in September.

Poulter, who just missed out on a place in the last European team, currently lies in the 10th and last automatic spot.

But there is not much of a gap between him and the two players immediately ahead of him, Joakim Haeggman and Brian Davis, and in difficult conditions an opening one-under-par 70 at Le Golf National helped rather than hindered the 28-year-old’s cause.

Haeggman is taking the week off, while Davis could do no better than 75.

Fichardt leads by one from Ian Woosnam, however, following a 66 and he is the target Poulter must aim for, knowing that a win now would considerably ease the tension in the final two months of the race.