Poulter staring down new pressure in trying to keep his card

Ian Poulter has faced pressure before on the golf course, playing for Europe in the Ryder Cup, but the next two weeks are a completely new type of stress.

Poulter needs to earn $144,669 in the next two events to keep his PGA Tour card for the 2017 season, after he was given a 10-event medical extension due to a foot injury that sidelined him for most of last year.

"I'm not thinking about it, that's how I'm handling it," the 41-year-old told pgatour.com after his round on Thursday. "I just want to go and play golf, thinking about it, obviously isn't going to help."

The Englishman is in good condition after rounds of 66-68 at this week's RBC Heritage, which puts him inside the top 10. However, the two-time PGA Tour winner is focused on trying to capture the event, a feat that would grant him a two-year exemption on tour.

"If I try and win this golf tournament and hit good golf shots, commit to every single shot I play, then I think I'm going to be good enough," he said. "So, I have to do that, I have to clear my mind. I've done a lot of things to try and clear everything else away, so I can just concentrate on my golf."

Poulter can attain his goal of $347,634, by finishing in a tie for 12th place this week at Hilton Head.