I’M IN TOP GEAR FOR THE OPEN
Ian Poulter used to be suffocated by pressure but with a new lease of life on the course and 14 Ferraris in his garage, he says:
There were times at past Opens when Ian Pou lt er’ s desperation to win the Claret Jug was so plain it was written all over his face. Or, more usually, his trousers.
What a contrast with the contented figure who’s been plotting his way around Carnoustie these past few days. The 42-year-old has earned himself an extended lifeline at the top of the game with his stunning comeback over the past 12 months, and he’s determined to enjoy it for as long as it lasts.
Asked if winning the Open would tick the last box in his illustrious career, he replied: ‘I really don’t need to win any tournament from now on. I’d like to, but I don’t need to put myself under any pressure. If I stopped tomorrow, I’d have a few beers and be quite happy with what I’ve achieved.
‘After all I went through for two and a half years, to come through and be where I am today, I’m happy. I don’t need to tick any more boxes. Life’s all good. I’ve got a great family, I’ve got enough money, I’ve got enough toys. I get invites to the royal Box at Wimbledon, I go to the grands prix, and take my kids. I’ve ticked nearly every box I could possibly tick.’
Poulter admitted it was all so different in the past. remember those Union Jack trousers he wore one year? Or the time at Muirfield when he turned up in an Austin Powers Jag? Or the slacks with the Claret Jug down one leg?
‘I was fired up and energetic when I was young because I wanted to go out and do it,’ he said. ‘I put myself under loads of pressure and I probably took myself out of it a number of times because I was trying too hard.
‘Now I went to the US Open last month, I was plodding around, and I found myself on the leaderboard. I’m enjoying my golf again because I don’t need to force it.
‘When you’re 200th in the world and you have to force your way back in, that’s when the game becomes hard. Now it’s good, it really is. Why do I have to win the Claret Jug? If it doesn’t happen I’m hardly going to sit back and think, gee, what a terrible life I’ve got. Sure, there’s a bit of money there and I need a few quid because my lifestyle’s expensive. But I couldn’t wish for anything better than the life I’ve got.’
Poulter’s emergence from the depths reached a peak in April, when he won the houston Open after holing a 25ft putt on the 18th hole to force a play-off. his subsequent win in extra holes for his first strokeplay victory in America not only got him in the Masters the following week but opened doors for the rest of the year.
It took him from 51st in the world to 29th, the position in which he still finds himself after a sustained period of relaxed, solid golf that has seen him post top-30 finishes in all of his subsequent nine events in europe and America. It’s a body of work that makes him a real sleeper pick this week, and particularly given his love of links golf. ‘It’s going to be tricky with the fairway traps in play after all the good weather but I enjoy the challenge, and the support of the crowd,’ he said.
As for his ‘toys,’ he’s now up to a collection of 14 Ferraris but they are investments rather than playthings. ‘I’ve obviously got an expensive taste in cars but the fact is they’re a very solid investment,’ he said. ‘I like to think I’m smart with my money. I’ve got 14 collectibles and they’re doing nicely.
‘I’m not a dealer because I’ve only sold two, but I’m pretty educated on my values and if something comes up at the right price I’m in a position to buy and sell.’
That’s for the future but now he’s just outside the eight automatic spots for europe’s ryder Cup team with three big-money tournaments to go, but it’s inconceivable that he wouldn’t get a wildcard, if necessary.
This week, it is his other favourite event. No Claret Jug on his trousers and no outlandish predictions, but given the form he is in and the place he is at in his life, don’t rule him out making a few back pages in the exciting days ahead.