Poults puts himself in position to end his five-year drought
THE spring is back in Ian Poulter’s step and he is ready to get back in the winner’s circle at the Scottish Open this afternoon.
Poulter shot a battling one-under-par 71 in the wind and rain at Dundonald Links to grab a share of the lead alongside Australian Andrew Dodt and fellow Englishman Callum Shinkwin.
It has been a lean time for the Ryder Cup star and the last of his 16 wins came at the WGC event in China nearly five years ago.
He almost lost his PGA Tour card earlier this year, only to be reprieved by a technicality raised by fellow Tour player Brian Gay and things have picked up since.
The 41-year-old was runner-up at the Players’ Championship in May to secure his privileges for next year in the States and he secured his Open spot by coming through final qualifying at Woburn.
After opening rounds of 67 and 69 at Dundonald, Poulter had to batten down the hatches on Moving Day as his three birdies outdid two bogeys.
The confidence has returned, and with his family and friends supporting him this week, including his son Luke, who has been following his every shot, he would love to be lifting the trophy this afternoon.
“I’m in a great position,” he said. “I’m in a position I’d like to be in and would like to be in more often. It’s about feeling comfortable and getting the buzz back.
“It may not have looked like it today but the buzz is there inside. I feel energised and excited about the golf I have been playing.
“There’s no question I feel better. A lot of pressure has come off my shoulders. I can go out and play golf.
“I know I’m in a happy place and like most
people, when you’re happy, you can do good things.
“It’s been a while. The last trophy I won, I handed to my son on his birthday. That was a nice moment and it would be awesome to do it again.
“I need to have a big Sunday to get it done. I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”
While Poulter is looking to get back to former glories, it is new territory for Shinkwin. In his second year on Tour, the former Walker Cup player is 151st on the Race to Dubai and went from January to the recent French Open without making a cut.
But Poulter was impressed with what he saw from the 24-year-old out on the links, as his younger compatriot fired a level-par 72.
“I had never met Callum before today, but he did great,” he admitted.
“Someone told me he has not had the best of seasons, but when he plays golf like that, you scratch your head and say why.”
Completing the trio at the top is Australian Dodt, who birdied the par-five 18th to get round in 71.
He and Shinkwin are in pole position to claim one of the three spots for The Open on offer to the leading non-exempt finishers inside the top-10.
But if he manages that, wife Ashley might not be too impressed.
“My wife flew in from Sydney this morning and we’ve got a five-day holiday booked in New York, flying out Monday morning,” smiled Dodt.
“But I’ll be glad to change that for a spot in The Open. I’m 31 and I haven’t played a Major yet. There’s a lot of motivation to pick up one of those spots.”
English Ryder Cup man Andy Sullivan shot a best- of- the- day 67 to move into fourth, two shots back while American stars Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar are in a large group of players four off the pace.
But it was a day to forget for former Open Champion Padraig Harrington, who began the day in a share of the lead.
In conditions in which he has prospered, the Irishman’s hopes were blown well and truly off course as he fired a miserable 79.