Poulter’s Turkish delight as he finally finds form

IAN POULTER yesterday produced his best round of a quite dreadful year at the £4.5million Turkish Airlines Open. New Titleist clubs and a dusted-off putter from the 2013 Open, in which he finished third, helped him hit seven birdies and an eagle on his way to a 64. He lies eight under par, a shot behind leader Miguel Angel Jimenez at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal. ‘I’d played s*** all year,’ said Poulter (pictured). ‘There’s no other word for it. But I am having a boost at the right time. I got new sticks in the bag and they worked really quickly. I am happy.’ Two weeks after struggling to break 90, Jimenez carded a flawless 63, holing his second shot to the opening hole for an eagle and throwing in seven birdies for good measure. ‘It’s special because I’ve been struggling over the last few months,’ said the oldest winner in European Tour history, who celebrates his 51st birthday in January. The three players attempting to prevent Rory McIlroy being crowned European No 1 for the second time in two years all struggled to make an impression on a day when 50 of the 78-strong field broke par. Marcel Siem’s 70 was the best the trio could manage, while Jamie Donaldson shot a level-par 72 and Sergio Garcia struggled to a 75. Colin Montgomerie, playing his 600th European Tour event on the course he designed, was a shot worse off after a 76. Fellow Scots Marc Warren and Stephen Gallacher fared far better, both returning 67s.