Poulter, whose driver was stolen in China two weeks ago, raised some eyebrows when he pulled out of last week's Singapore Open, rather than risk a poor performance with a new driver that he was not comfortable with.

He arrived at Miyazaki City on the southern tip of Japan on Saturday, and immediately set to work on finding a suitable driver.

It did not take him long, as he received his answer as soon as he walked through the front door at Phoenix Country Club.

Poulter said: "When I arrived in the clubhouse, they were putting my signed bag, shoes, cap and driver from last year in the showcase.

"I asked them to give me the driver, changed the shaft and am now using the driver from the showcase. It is not the driver I used last year, but the same model.

"It is very difficult to find a driver you like. Maybe you have to test 20 before you find one you like."

Englishman Poulter had a stellar Ryder Cup in September, winning four of his five matches on a losing European team, but he has not won since his three-shot triumph here last year.

His main competition this week may come from South African Ernie Els, who finished equal second in Singapore on Sunday, or perhaps Ryder Cup team-mate Henrik Stenson.

Japanese number one Shingo Katayama, who won a play-off at the Taiheiyo Masters on Sunday, is in good form, as is 17-year-old Ryo Ishikawa, who has quickly become a megastar in his homeland since turning professional last year.

Ishikawa recorded his first victory as a professional three weeks ago, and is eighth on the Japan Tour money list.

Els, the 1993 champion, has returned for the first time in 10 years to find that the course, which is threaded through a thick forest of stunted pines adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, has been considerably lengthened over the past decade.

He said: "I have a strong three-wood in the bag to keep the ball on the fairway. I have to think about keeping the ball in play as the rough is tougher."

The Dunlop Phoenix invariably has the strongest international field on the Japan Tour, and this year is no exception.

There is a six-strong American contingent, comprising Steve Flesch, Steve Marino, Johnson Wagner, Brandt Snedeker, Brandt Jobe and Greg Meyer.

The most recent American winner was Tiger Woods, who prevailed in 2004 and 2005 before losing a play-off to Padraig Harrington two years ago.