Poulter ‘ pumped’ for British Open

WOBURN, ENGLAND Ian Poulter will be heading back to Royal Birkdale and the British Open looking to better his finish the last time it was held on the course just north of Liverpool.

That means he aims to finish first. He was second to Padraig Harrington in 2008.

Poulter shot rounds of 70 and 68 around his home course of Woburn for a 6- under- par 138 total Tuesday to claim one of three spots available in an Open qualifier. He finished in a tie for second with countryman Toby Tree, two shots behind top qualifier Shiv Kapur of India. Kapur played college golf at Purdue.

Poulter holed a clutch 15- foot par putt on Royal Birkdale’s 18th hole in the final round of the 2008 Open Championship that he thought might win him the Claret Jug trophy, or at least get him into a playoff. However, Padraig Harrington eagled the par- 5 17th hole and ran out a four- shot winner to successfully defend the championship he won 12 months previously.

“As soon as I get there, I will be pumped for the week,” Poulter said Tuesday. “Obviously, going back to Birkdale after what happened in 2008 is special. You know I thought I had that 15- foot putt ( on the 72nd) to maybe win or get in a playoff, and then my Irish friend decided to go bananas on the last five holes. It was a great week, my best in a major. All my family and friends were there to see me play, and after I finished ( wife) Katie told me she was pregnant with Lily, so it was happy days that week.”

Earning a spot in the Open Championship means Poulter is on a run of five consecutive Opens.

“I played the French, I’m playing the Irish, Scottish, The Open and the Canadian Open.

“If I get into the WGC ( Bridgestone Invitational), then that will be six big tournaments in a row, and I’ve got a chance to qualify for the PGA Championship, which would be seven massive events in a row.”

Poulter is never short of confidence and thinks he can compete at Royal Birkdale.

“Birkdale is my favorite Open venue because of 2008, and I’m looking forward to competing there. It’s going to be a busy run. It will be my fourth tournament in a row, but it’s about managing my energy levels.”

Poulter has been associated with Woburn since 2002 as the club’s tournament professional and knows the Marquess Course well.

“It would have been disappointing to miss out. I would have been expected to have qualified, and I guess you can say job well done.”

MICHAEL MADRID, USA TODAY SPORTS Ian Poulter, who finished second in The Players Championship in May, above, likes his chances at the British Open at Royal Birkdale. The last time it was there, he was the runner- up.