Ian Poulter Needs $31k to Keep PGA TOUR Card

One of the underlying headlines of the PGA TOUR season has been the status of Ian Poulter.  It has been noted that he is close to losing his membership card on the PGA TOUR along with having to drop his clothing line.  The situation has gotten much more dire, however.

While Poulter had the opportunity to keep his card with strong showings in many of the year’s events, he has not been able to take advantage.  Now this week, Poulter will have to win $31k at the Valero Texas Open.  That would amount to roughly a top 30 finish in the event.

The worst part for Poulter has to be that he had a chance to end all of this drama at Harbour Town during the RBC Heritage.  Poulter was the leader of the tournament for 45 holes but collapsed on Sunday, shooting two-over par for the final round.  If Poulter would have come in just one shot better, he would have hit the winnings mark that he needed to retain his membership.

While it will be such a crucial week for Poulter, he is trying not to think about it.  He said during the RBC Heritage that, “I just want to go out and play good golf.  Thinking about it is obviously not going to help.  If I try and win this golf tournament and hit good golf shots, and commit to every single shot I play, then I would think I would be good enough.”

Even if Poulter isn’t able to get the job done and finish in the top 30 this week, there are still ways that he could end up participating on the Tour until he is able to regain membership.  For example, Poulter could use sponsor exemptions that would allow him to compete in specific events but those are not the easiest to come by.

Since Poulter’s entire PGA TOUR playing career comes down to the Valero Texas Open, all eyes will be on the former Ryder Cup champion and many fans will be rooting that he finishes in a spot that will allow his career to continue without a hitch.

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