Poulter picks up the pace
Ian Poulter stepped up his bid for a first US Tour win in New Orleans today.
While overnight leader Graeme McDowell managed only a level-par 36 for the front nine and slipped to joint fifth, Poulter turned in 33 and when he chipped to a foot on the long 11th he moved into a tie for third place.
The Milton Keynes golfer was nine under par, two behind new pacesetter Joe Durant, who was seven under for the day with four holes remaining.
Glen Day was in second place, while Masters champion Phil Mickelson was five under and playing partner Padraig Harrington four under.
McDowell took the first round lead by holing his second shot to the ninth, his last, for an eagle two, but on the resumption missed the green at the first and bogeyed.
He then had to wait until the seventh for his first birdie.
Poulter birdied the first, seventh and eighth as he built on his opening 67.
