Poulter defies 'brutal' weather for share of lead
LONDON: Ian Poulter made light of “brutal” conditions to move into a three-way share of the lead after the Scottish Open third round at Dundonald Links on Saturday.
The 41-year Florida-based Englishman carded a one-under 71 to join compatriot Callum Shinkwin (72) and Australia’s Andrew Dodt (71) at nine-under par.
This trio are two shots clear of Andy Sullivan on a windswept and rainy day on the Scottish west coast.
Poulter, looking to win for a first time anywhere in five years, said: “I am pretty happy as starting out we knew the conditions were going to be really tough today. On the 12th hole it was about as tough as I have ever seen in terms of wind and rain.
“It was a job just to hold onto the umbrella let alone trying to hit a 6 iron from 125 yards, and even that did not get near the pin. So, they were brutally tough conditions but I hung in there very strong and all in all it was a good day.”
Ten days ago, the sometimes outspoken English golfer brilliantly let his clubs do the talking in qualifying for this week’s British Open where in 2008 he recorded a career best finish in all of his 53 Major showings of second.
Now he is in with a shot of ending his long winless run.
“With a round to play, and not having won in five years, I am excited and it is good to be in this position but it will be all about staying patient but then I know there is still life in the old dog, yet.”
Meanwhile, Patrick Rodgers moved closer to his first PGA Tour victory, and a place in the British Open, when he retained a two-stroke lead after the third round at the John Deere Classic in Illinois on Saturday.
The former World No 1 amateur was not at his very best, but a three-under 68 left him with the same advantage at the end of the day as when he started.
Rodgers posted a 16-under 197 score at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, while fellow Americans Daniel Berger (63) and Scott Stallings (64) rocketed into second place on 14 under.
Sixteen players are lurking within five strokes of Rodgers, who will continue to play with an attacking mindset.
“This is a nice course to play with the lead because you have to keep the pedal down all day,” Rodgers told CBS television after his eight-foot par putt at the last sneaked in.
“Sixteeen-under’s not going to win so I need to go out and make a lot of birdies. You’re not really holding on, you’re still trying to be aggressive and make birdies.”
The winner will earn a spot in this week’s British Open.
Elsewhere, Feng Shanshan snapped a run of 23 consecutive pars with a birdie at the 18th to reclaim the lead over a wave of South Korean challengers heading into late yesterday’s final round of the US Women’s Open at Trump National.
China’s Shanshan broke a three-way tie with a three-foot birdie putt after missing chances from 10 feet and twice from 12 feet in the closing holes, posting a one-under 71 for a total of nineunder 207.
Amy Yang and 17-year-old amateur Choi Hye Jin were tied one stroke back, with long-hitting fellow Korean Park Sung Hyun two further shots away.
Another three South Koreans, World No 1 Ryu So Yeon (71), Lee Mi Rim (67) and Lee Jeong Eun (73), were another stroke back at five-under. Agencies