NO MORE PAIN FOR POULTER

It’s a little over a twohour drive from Ian Poulter’s home in Orlando to the beach here in Jacksonville and, while making the journey on tuesday, he couldn’t help but look back to a year ago and the shot that saved his career.

As he contemplates a summer filled with exciting possibilities, it’s easy to forget the dire predicament Poulter faced at the 2017 Players Championship, when people were openly wondering whether he was finished at the highest level.

Poulter had certainly answered some of those questions with his fine play to move into contention but, at the 72nd hole, he was staring calamity in the face once more. A shanked approach shot had left his ball in the trees. Every shot spilled from this point on would cost him oodles of precious world ranking points and now he was facing one fraught with difficulty.

‘No question, it was the hardest period of my career, one where I was trying so hard but sometimes you just can’t see through the trees,’ reflected Poulter (right).

‘When did I find some clarity of thought? I think it was when that shot from 116 yards landed next to the hole. It was as simple as that. I was looking for a massive week to act as a stepping stone and there you had the turnaround on one shot. ‘It got my head back in the right position.’ From a world ranking of 195 at the start of that event, Poulter moved up 100 places thanks to his runner-up finish. After this week, he will spend the summer playing the European tour and cementing his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team. ‘It’s about confidence and I’m full of it once more,’ he said. Poulter will play alongside tommy Fleetwood in the first round this morning and Justin Rose, who could go to world No 1 if he wins here. ‘It’s wonderful to have the chance to be world ld No N 1f 1 for th the fi first t ti time i in my career,’ said Rose, 37.

‘It’s never been a real goal before because I haven’t been close, but now I’m looking at the next month as a real opportunity to get to the summit.’

With all the world’s top 50 in attendance it promises to be some week at sawgrass. As Poulter demonstrated, it is a week that can change everything.

Meanwhile, tiger Woods has confirmed his entry for this summer’s Open Championship.

Woods has won the Claret Jug three times but has not contested the major since 2015.

Englishman flying high after last year’s agony