Poulter aims to be Daddy Cool

Scottish Open success for son is main motivation for Englishman

IAN POULTER last night vowed to be Daddy Cool at Dundonald and clinch victory in the Scottish Open for his son Luke. The Ryder Cup star (left) battled through some brutal conditions in Ayrshire yesterday and will go into today’s final round in a share of the lead with Callum Shinkwin and Australia’s Andrew Dodt. Without a title since 2012, Poulter, who has been staying locally in Prestwick, is desperate to end his five-year drought and hand the trophy to his son.

‘It has been really nice to have my whole family up here this week,’ said the 41-year-old.

‘It has been a while since I won. The last trophy I handed to him (Luke) was on his birthday, which was a nice phone call to make.

‘I told him before I went out that I would hand him a trophy on that Sunday for his birthday — and I did. It would be awesome to win in front of him once again.

‘I have a big Sunday ahead of me to get it done. I’ve got 18 good holes to play to try to do that and I’m looking forward to the opportunity.’

Poulter has steadily started to regain his form after missing the bulk of last season due to a toe injury.

Having missed out on the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine last year, as well as almost losing his PGA Tour playing rights, he feels he has now turned the corner and is in a positive frame of mind once again.

‘The stresses of that (trying to keep your

THROUGH the bleakest grey skies that Ayrshire could throw at him, and also those which have clouded his career in recent times, Ian Poulter now has the look of a man who has finally found shelter from the storm. In conditions he described as the toughest he has faced in almost a decade, the Englishman’s talents shone through as he kept his nerve to card a one-under-par 71 at Dundonald yesterday.

That is enough to give him a share of the lead going into this afternoon’s final round, along with his countryman Callum Shinkwin and Australia’s Andrew Dodt.

The past 18 months have, by his own admission, been the most difficult of Poulter’s career. Last season was essentially a write-off due to a toe injury, forcing him to miss the Ryder Cup, the very event that has come to define him as a golfer.

But it goes deeper than that. Personal issues, like the collapse of his clothing brand, contributed to a loss of form which saw him drop into the 200s in the world rankings.

He almost lost his playing rights on the PGA Tour earlier this year, only for a fine second-placed finish at the Players Championship at Sawgrass in May to spark the revival.

It is not quite complete. Not yet, at least. A player of his calibre will not consider the job done until he can savour the sweet taste of victory once again.

That is something he has not done for a long time; a five-year drought stretching back to the WGC HSBC Champions event in 2012.

It is a hell of a long time between drinks. Far too long, indeed. And, as he seeks to end the drought this afternoon, Poulter concedes that he will not be able to keep his eyes off the leaderboard.

‘I always watch it,’ admitted the 41-year-old. ‘I can’t really help myself. I like to know exactly what position I’m in and what’s going on around me.

‘In terms of winning, it’s just about being patient. I will be aggressive when I feel the pin is there to be attacked but, sometimes, in conditions like this, you have to accept that pars are every bit as good as birdies.

‘I’m in a great position and one I’d like to be in more often, so it’s about feeling positive and getting the buzz back. The buzz is there, trust me.

‘I feel energised and excited about the golf I’ve been playing. I’m looking forward to the final round very much.’

Poulter, who has been staying locally in Prestwick, will be cheered on this afternoon by a group of family and friends who have made the trip to Scotland with him. Among them is his son Luke, to whom Poulter admitted he would dedicate victory if he can see it through.

For a while yesterday, it looked like he might hold a comfortable lead going into the final round. Two shots ahead at one point, it was his scrambling on the back nine and ability to hold his score together that really impressed.

He did not hit every fairway, and nor did he hit every green in regulation, but he found a way to get the ball in the hole. He is a streaky player, and a streaky putter especially. If he can channel some of that famous Ryder Cup energy into the short stick this afternoon, he will be a tough man to beat.

Poulter is one of three Englishmen vying for the Scottish crown. Shinkwin is alongside him at nine under, with Andy Sullivan two shots further back after a quite magnificent round of 67 which included a golden ferret eagle three on the 18th.

That came early in the day. The tee times were moved forward to try and avoid the worst of the weather, but it was to no avail.

Conditions were hellishly difficult and it did not take long before some big names came a cropper as the gusts whipped up and the heavens

opened.

Overnight leaders Padraig Harrington and Alexander Knappe both had a day to forget. Harrington, a three-time major winner and a man who once excelled in exactly these conditions, carded a ruinous 79, while Knappe was not much better with a 76.

Rickie Fowler was another who could not quite get to grips with the elements. The American started the day nicely poised at seven under, but slipped back into the pack after a disappointing 74.

‘It was really, really tough,’ he said. ‘It’s no secret that I’ve always enjoyed coming over to Britain and playing links golf, but that was one of the most difficult days I can remember.

‘It kind of becomes guesswork. When the wind swirls so much, you aren’t sure whether it’s a two, three or even a four-club difference.’

Two men who fared somewhat better were New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and Irishman Paul Dunne. Both carded tidy rounds of 69 and, just three shots adrift heading into today, can’t be discounted.

Dunne, in particular, might just fancy his chances given his affinity for links golf. While still an amateur, the Irishman held a share of the lead going into the final round of the Open Championship at St Andrews in 2015 and clearly relishes these conditions.

Fox is another who is made of stern stuff. The son of All Black World Cup-winning fly-half Grant, the big Kiwi leads the way in driving distance this week and has the armoury to overpower Dundonald should the wind begin to blow once again today.

Slipping quietly under the radar, Graeme McDowell is another who might yet feature at the business end of things today. Among a cluster of players four shots off the lead, the Northern Irishman has the added incentive of trying to qualify for the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale next week.

But, anyone who has designs on collecting the £898,412 winner’s cheque, must be prepared to wrestle it away from Poulter.

There was a glint in his eye last night, a self-assurance that seemed lost for so long. He now looks like a man who has rediscovered his best form. You sense that victory this afternoon might just be the ray of sunshine he has craved for so long.

The buzz is there, trust me. I’m feeling energised and excited about the golf I’ve been playing.