IT’S COMING HOME
26 years of hurt hasn’t stopped Poults dreaming.. especially after England’s Russia World Cup heroics
FEW golfers can rival Ian Poulter when it comes to fist-pumping, eye-bulging passion.
But the keen football fan admits England’s success reaching the World Cup semi-finals has got him even more fired up.
Now, with the Ryder Cup looming in September, Poulter is determined to hit top form at the ideal time as he targets a sixth appearance.
And he has momentum after a stunning resurgence in the last year to climb back up the rankings to world No.29.
His form includes victory at the Houston Open in April, with his first win since 2012, and two other top-10 finishes in the last four months.
The European Ryder Cup legend, who helped inspire the “Miracle of Medinah”, now wants to be the scourge of the Americans once more. The USA have dominated the Majors – winning the last five on the trot.
But Poulter is used to dashing their hopes after being on the winning team in four of his five Ryder Cup appearances.
And he wants to produce some patriotic celebrations of his own at The Open, where no Englishman has won since Nick Faldo in 1992. Poulter, 42, said: “The World Cup was amazing on so many levels.
“As a passionate football nation, we haven’t had that for a while – and we have been starved of it since Euro ’96.
“It was great to see the videos of everyone all over the country enjoying our way through as far as we got.
“To get to the semis with a young team was a bonus and they have a lot to take home which was positive, as opposed to the last 20 years of being negative.
“It was great to watch and feel that energy. And it would be great to keep that going here at Carnoustie.
“I love The Open – I like the challenge, the test and the fans. I like what this event means to so many people and it would be great to play well.”
Poulter has Open pedigree as a runner-up in the event in 2008 at Birkdale.
Last year, he was in contention after the first two rounds, but carded 71 and 70 over the weekend to finish up tied 14th at Birkdale.
But he has been practising at Carnoustie to plot his way around to avoid the links’ dangers on a firm, dry track.
Poulter added: “I am focusing on just trying to play good golf. This week is a week I would like to play really well.
“The course is fascinating, with extremely firm and fast fairways.
“We don’t get that this often, so there is no right or wrong way to play the golf course.
“You will see the likes of Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlory probably trying to take advantage to carry the traps.
“And you are going to have guys like myself that are going to try and pick their way around the golf course.
“I have practised to see where I can be aggressive and where I have to be sensible.
“It is hard to get the ball to stop to a front pin downwind, so the holes into the wind are actually a good chance to score.”