Wednesday 4 March 2015 17:04, UK
Ian Poulter believes it's great news for golf in the UK that the British Masters is returning to the European Tour after a seven year absence.
The tournament, supported by Sky Sports, will return to the European Tour this October for the first time since 2008, with Ian Poulter named to host the event at Woburn GC - his home golf club.
Speaking live from Florida ahead of the WGC-Cadillac Championship, 12-time European Tour winner Poulter, who is a three-time runner-up in the British Masters, admitted he was "very excited" to be involved in the tournament's return.
"It’s just such a great venue to hold this great tournament and I’m absolutely proud and honoured to be able to host this tournament," Poulter told Sky Sports News HQ.
“The UK has been starved of some fantastic golf venues and fantastic tournaments through the years, so it’s great that we’ve got this one back.
“It will be very popular with all the guys out here on the tour. I know we’re going to get a great strong field and it’s up to us to be able to grow the game of golf back in the UK.”
Poulter is the first of four British golfers who will rotate as the tournament host over the next four seasons, with fellow Ryder Cup stars Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood all taking on the role in the near future.
Major winners Seve Ballesteros and Sir Nick Faldo are among the former British Masters champions at Woburn Golf Club, while Poulter narrowly missed out on victory from close friend Justin Rose by one-stroke the last time the course hosted the event in 2002.
“It was an amazing Sunday,” Poulter added. “Justin was staying with me for the week and not only was I cooking him food he decided to win the tournament!
“He beat me by one shot and I missed about a 12-foot putt to take it into a play-off with him. We went back to my house, I cooked him another meal which was obviously very nice of me and I decided to drop his trophy and bend it, so I got my own back!”
Poulter is in action at this week's WGC-Cadillac Championship, which you can watch from Thursday-Sunday live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
