Poulter hands Faldo Ryder selection poser

(CNN) -- Ian Poulter has given European captain Nick Faldo a Ryder Cup headache by opting out of the final qualifying event in Scotland this week to play in a lucrative tournament in the United States.

The British Open runner-up would have made certain of an automatic place by finishing in the top five of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, but must now rely on being one of Faldo's two captain's picks.

Poulter will instead play in the Deutsche Bank tournament in Boston which does not count towards the European Ryder Cup points standings.

"It has been an extremely difficult decision to take, given my burning desire to represent Europe again in defending the Ryder Cup in the United States," Poulter told the Press Association.

"But the fact that Boston this week is my only opportunity to qualify for the final two (FedEx Cup) play-off events, as well as being my final opportunity to play my 15 events on the PGA Tour, conflicts with my ambition to play Gleneagles and earn my spot in the team," he added.

Faldo now faces a difficult choice come Sunday with Darren Clarke, an impresive winner of the KLM Dutch Open last weekend, Paul Casey and Ryder Cup stalwart Colin Montgomerie also hoping to catch his eye.

Last year's European number one Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson occupy the final three of the 10 automatic places and only three players -- Martin Kaymer, Ross Fisher and Nick Dougherty can deny them at Gleneagles.

Poulter, who played in the 2004 team which triumphed at Oakland Hills, is hoping Faldo will understand his decision.

"The captain's picks are a nightmare and not a position I would have wanted, where I need one, but we do know that Nick will do the right thing and I will be playing as hard as I can this week to add to my year and hopefully earn one."

He cannot, however, impress Faldo with a win. The Boston event runs from Friday to Monday and Faldo is naming his wild cards on Sunday night.

Europe will be defending the Ryder Cup at Valhalla in Kentucky from September 19-21 after another resounding victory at Ireland's K-Club in 2006.

Some of the other players hoping to be named by Faldo were not fully appreciative of Poulter's decision.

Clarke said: "Most of us would have liked to see him trying to qualify. He has stated his desire to make the team, so he obviously thinks it's better for him to be over there."

Montgomerie, who needs to show some of his best form n Scotland to have a serious chance of getting in, commented: "Every player who plays his way into the team makes the team stronger.

"He seems to have been on a hotline to Nick for a while, but it would have been nice for him to have played here. I can't really speak for anybody playing or not playing - he has his own schedule."