The Englishman cannot now make the automatic selection spots after deciding to skip the Johnnie Walker Championship this weekend.
Poulter announced on Monday he is staying to compete in America even though the tournament there does not count towards the points table.
Darren Clarke, a winner in Holland on Sunday, Paul Casey and Colin Montgomerie are also looking for one of two wildcard picks, with Faldo due to announce his line-up on Sunday.
Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson, meanwhile, occupy places eight, nine and 10 on the standings, with only Martin Kaymer, Ross Fisher and Nick Dougherty able to deny them.
606: DEBATE
But Swede Robert Karlsson, who has already secured his spot, is an injury concern after being told not to risk further damage to a neck problem by practising.
Karlsson has decided not to play the Omega Masters in Switzerland (from 4-7 September) as a precaution, but hopes to play the Mercedes-Benz Championship (from 11-14 September) the week before the Ryder Cup.
The top five players from a list based on the points accrued from world rankings plus the next five best players on a European Tour-based points list make up the 10 automatic qualifiers.
European Ryder Cup team:
(as at 25/08/08. Last week's ranking in brackets)
1. (1) Padraig Harrington - Ireland - 4 caps
2. (4) Sergio Garcia - Spain - 4 caps
3. (2) Lee Westwood - England - 5 caps
4. (3) Henrik Stenson - Sweden - 1 cap
5. (5) Robert Karlsson - Sweden - 1 cap
6. (6) Miguel Angel Jimenez - Spain - 2 caps
7. (7) Graeme McDowell - Northern Ireland - 0 caps
8. (8) Justin Rose - England - 0 caps
9. (10) Soren Hansen - Denmark - 0 caps
10. (9) Oliver Wilson - England - 0 caps
European Ryder Cup World list
23 November
1 Lee Westwood Eng 131.26 points
2 Rory McIlroy NI 111.66
3 Padraig Harrington Ire 85.95
4 Ross McGowan Eng 83.91
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5 Simon Dyson Eng 78.09
6 Ian Poulter Eng 69.76
7 Edoardo Molinari Ita 66.47
8 Alexander Noren Swe 66.20
9 Francesco Molinari Ita 60.85
10 Gregory Bourdy Fra 55.67
Top four qualify plus five from
European list — see following page
European Ryder Cup European list
23 November
1 Lee Westwood Eng 1,623,399.58
2 Rory McIlroy NI 1,184,186.03
3 Ross McGowan Eng 1,091,417.56
4 Simon Dyson Eng 861,689.72
5 Ian Poulter Eng 760,755.98
6 Alexander Noren Swe 739,549.12
7 Ross Fisher Eng 632,192.08
8 Francesco Molinari Ita 620,270.79
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9 Oliver Wilson Eng 538,070.46
10 Padraig Harrington Ire 503,374.94
Top 5 not qualified through World list
qualify — current qualifiers above line
US Ryder Cup list
23 November
1 Lucas Glover 1,650.000 points
2 Stewart Cink 1,291.096
3 Tiger Woods 1,286.163
4 Phil Mickleson 873.530
5 Kenny Perry 734.943
6 Tom Watson 732.603
7 Chad Campbell 681.113
8 Ricky Barnes 559.830
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= David Duval 559.830
10 Hunter Mahan 527.417
11 John Merrick 393.450
12 Steve Stricker 337.530
Top eight qualify automatically
The top eight automatic American qualifiers secured their places after the USPGA on 10 August. Captain Paul Azinger will name his four wildcards on Tuesday 2 September.
The 37th Ryder Cup will take place at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, from 19-21 September.
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