STAR DUO TURN BACK TIME Nothing I achieve or don’t achieve will change my legacy
Popular pair Poulter and Harrington are rising into contention
PADRAIG Harrington and Ian Poulter, who finished 1-2 the last time The Open was at Royal Birkdale in 2008, are warming up for the return next week by threatening to carry out something of a re-enactment at the AAM Scottish Open.
Given that Harrington feared his career was over five weeks ago, and Poulter wasn’t in The Open field as recently as last month, it’s a delicious twist of fate to see them separated by just a shot at the top of the leaderboard at halfway.
They probably haven’t both been in contention for the same title since Harrington kept hold of the Claret Jug but what a lovely prelude it would be for the biggest week of the golfing year if a duel unfolds between the popular pair this weekend.
The Irishman, who had just 21 putts in his opening round of 67, followed it up with a more orthodox 68 to set the pace alongside little-known German Alexander Knappe and Englishman Callum Shinkwin on nine under.
Poulter, who hasn’t won anywhere for five years, underlined he is beginning to piece his game together again with two 68s.
One man who won’t be playing, let alone contending, is Rory McIlroy, who improved a little on his disastrous opening round but not enough to avoid successive missed halfway cuts, following his failure at the Irish Open.
The 28-year-old missed two straight cuts in 2015 before bouncing back with a top-ten finish at the US Open, so perhaps all is not lost with regard to his chances at Birkdale. Two years ago, however, he had two weeks to regroup. Here, he’s got hardly any time at all.
What was particularly worrying was his play down the stretch, after a front nine of 33 had seemingly set him up for a weekend reprieve. From out of nowhere came a double bogey at the 13th that put him back under pressure.
Now needing two birdies to make the weekend, this is when we normally see him at his best. If truth be told, he rarely looked like making one as his struggles with his wedge play became apparent once more. He had two par fives to play but not even fortunate bounces at both could generate a spark.
The final straw came at the long 18th, where he created his one clear birdie chance, from 6ft. The ball never came close to touching the hole.
‘I’m just waiting for something to happen,’ said McIlroy, who had placed such high importance on these two events on links courses to get him in the mood for The Open. Now, all that’s left him for him is an early trip to Birkdale today for some unwanted practice.
‘I feel like I’m more than capable of going down there and shooting a couple of even pars — or shooting something in the 60s and getting myself into contention,’ he added. ‘I’ve just got to keep plugging away and, hopefully, it turns around next week.’
Harrington, who was in pieces last month after an amateur struck him on the elbow, is in contention to win his 16th European Tour title. Although he hasn’t been on leaderboards much in the latter stages of his career, he’s invariably gone on to win when he has been in position.
He did so against Andy Sullivan for the Portugal Masters last October and the Honda Classic on the PGA Tour the previous year. Harrington attributes that to the fact he can now freewheel.
‘Anything I achieve from now on is only going to be a bonus, so I’m under no pressure,’ argued the three-time major champion. ‘Nothing I achieve or don’t achieve at this stage will make much difference to my legacy, even winning another major. So why not enjoy it.’
Knappe blazed round the back nine in just 30 shots.
Poulter has risen over 100 places to 83rd in the world rankings this season, but a win would get him back into the top 50.
‘My love affair with my new putting stroke is growing,’ said the 41-year-old, who benefitted from an outrageous piece of luck at the 13th, where his overhit chip was going to finish at least 40ft beyond the hole but it hit the flag flush and dropped in.
It’s also a big weekend for Shinkwin, who said: ‘I need to stay calm and relaxed.’
Given that over the next 36 holes he will be playing for a near £1million first prize, not to mention one of the last three remaining spots into The Open, good luck with that, Callum.
With strong winds forecast for late afternoon today, play will start early with the aim of finishing the third round at 4pm.