Rain fails to ruin Poulter preparation

Ian Poulter is confident the unusual torrential rain which has disrupted practice ahead of this week’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championship will not affect the Englishman continuing his strong finish to last year as he steps up his Ryder Cup bid.

The 32-year-old, who missed last year’s event here after securing a top-10 finish in 2006, is ready to pick up where he left off after finishing 2007 with victory at the Dunlop Phoenix event in Japan, his only win of the year, and with a strong fourth place showing alongside Justin Rose at the World Cup.