Englishman Ian Poulter immediately qualified for the 2012 Volvo World Match Play Championship when he won the 2011 event in a thrilling final against compatriot Luke Donald at Finca Cortesín last May.

Poulter, currently ranked 30th in the world became the first man eligible for the event courtesy of what was his 11th European Tour title, having previously won the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship and the 2004 Volvo Masters.

The 35-year-old missed out on the Volvo Golf Champions over The Links at Fancourt due to the impending birth of his fourth child, Joshua James Poulter on 26th January, making his return to competitive golf with an understated performance in the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, before making the halfway cut at the recent WGC Cadillac Championship at Doral.

Poulter will be focused on all four ‘Majors,’ this year, and, in addition to the defence of his Volvo World Match Play Championship will be going all-out to earn a place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team to play the USA at Medinah Country Club in September for what would be his fourth appearance in the bi-annual event.

Ian Poulter qualified for the 2012 Volvo World Match Play Championship as defending champion having won the event at Finca Cortesín in May 2011.