Poulter bares his teeth as he escapes from captivity
Englishman recaptures fitness and form to equal best major round after being forced to qualify
Like a caged tiger, Ian Poulter will never be content in captivity. He describes being cooped up in Sky’s commentary studio during last year’s Open, which he missed with a foot injury, as one of the most difficult experiences of his career.
Yesterday, Poulter was back in his natural habitat, as his body language readily revealed. Prowling down the fairways to the acclaim of the gallery, his chest was puffed out and there was a noticeable strut in his step. “I didn’t know I was a strutter,” Poulter countered. What the 41-year-old does not dispute is that he is playing with real confidence, as exemplified by his threeunder-par round of 67, equalling his best at a major, when conditions were at their most treacherous.
It is all a far cry from earlier this year when a combined lack of form and fitness left his PGA Tour card in jeopardy before his second-place finish at the Players’ Championship. “I think that was a huge turning point,” Poulter said. “And I’m definitely a freer player on the course. I can be more aggressive. I can hit more of the shots that I’m kind of visualising.
“Certainly, 12 months ago, I was getting very down. It’s easy to be down when you feel you’re a great player and all of a sudden you’re hampered with a bit of injury. You’re not getting the results you want. It’s very easy to slide away.
“So, I’m proud of the way I’ve been able to refocus, get things back on the straight and narrow, clear away some of the noise in the background, and get back to really focusing hard on what I need to do to get the level of golf back that I think I can play.”
Nevertheless, Poulter’s ranking still did not entitle him to an automatic berth at Royal Birkdale, where he finished second to Padraig Harrington in 2008. After missing the past five majors, the only option left available was the final qualification tournament at Woburn, his home club. Certain players of Poulter’s calibre would find it impossible to swallow their pride to duke it out for one of three berths with the sport’s waifs and strays. Poulter, however, had no qualms about risking his ego being pricked.
“A lot of people have come up and said not just ‘well done for qualifying’ but ‘well done for playing the qualifier’,” Poulter said. “So, that is a surprise, to have so many people say that to me. It’s something that you should do. If you’re in a position to try to qualify for the best event in the world, then you should make the effort to go and do it.
“It was a special day. I think to try and qualify for this championship is a big deal. For it to be in your home club with huge support was amazing. I thought there would be quite a decent gallery, and it turned out there were several thousand turned out to watch. I certainly felt a bit of pressure. Pressure to obviously make sure I take one of those three spots.”
That pressure has now been lifted, allowing Poulter to play without any inhibitions. Two long putts led to a pair of birdies in the first four holes. A bogey at seven checked his momentum before he sank another 10-footer to go into the turn at two-under.
But for a handful of lipped putts in the homeward nine, Poulter could have established an even more impressive clubhouse lead. The previous night, he had taken his yardage book out and meticulously planned each hole, readying himself for the crosswinds and fairway bunkers that lay in wait. “I almost played a round of golf last night in my head and I had a lower score in my head last night than I did today, but don’t we all?”