Poulter eyes fast start

The Englishman has just become a father for a fourth time and told his 1.2million twitter followers: "Life can't get better.

"You could say I'm a very proud daddy. It's going to be hard leaving to play golf," said Poulter as he posted pictures of son Joshua, born at the Florida hospital named after Arnold Palmer's late wife Winnie.

What would make the 36-year-old even happier, of course, is if he could kick off 2012 like he ended 2011 - with a victory.

Poulter's win at the Australian Masters a week before Christmas - against a field which included world number one Luke Donald - was a bright end to a season in which he also won the Volvo World Match Play in Spain, but failed to record a top-25 finish in the four majors.

Not playing in January means he is just outside the world's top 20 again and has ground to make up in the Ryder Cup race, but his superb record in that event will clearly count in his favour if he ends up needing a wild card.

This is the year when Phil Mickelson can become the most-capped American cup player of all time by making his ninth appearance against Europe, but it has not begun well for the 41-year-old.

Mickelson

Mickelson finished only 49th at the Humana Challenge and then missed the cut in last week's Farmers Insurance Open, although it emerged afterwards that there was a family drama behind the scenes.

The three-time Masters champion's 10-year-old daughter Sophia fainted and suffered a small seizure at school and was in hospital undergoing tests as he shot his opening 77.

She was well enough to return to school the following day and Mickelson had a 68. He will be hoping to build on that this week.

Stanley

The story at Torrey Pines over the weekend focused instead on Kyle Stanley. He looked set for his maiden PGA Tour title when he led by seven early in the final round and by three on the final tee.

But he spun his third shot to the long 18th into the water, three-putted for a triple-bogey eight and lost a play-off to fellow American Brandt Snedeker by three-putting again.

"Sunday night was tough," the 24-year-old has admitted. "I tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve a little bit and it just kind of came out.

"There were tears, there was disappointment. I think there was a little bit of shock too.

"But we'll get back in the saddle and I think I'll be better for it. You can either let it get you down or you can focus on the positive. I did way too many good things to dwell on one shot or one hole or one putt."

By going straight onto the next tournament Stanley has the chance to make instant amends.

Back after a week off, meanwhile, is Scotland's world number 34 Martin Laird, boosted not only by his runner-up finish in Hawaii last month, but also his third place at TPC Scottsdale last year.

Laird had closing rounds of 64 and 65 then to be only two behind winner Mark Wilson.