Poulter ready to get 'beaten up' in Scotland

The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open got under way at Royal Aberdeen on Thursday, with several of the world’s top players anticipating a tougher test than at next week’s Open at Hoylake.

Poulter ready to get 'beaten up' in Scotland

The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open got under way at Royal Aberdeen on Thursday, with several of the world’s top players anticipating a tougher test than at next week’s Open at Hoylake.

A combination of wind, rain and a difficult Royal Aberdeen course was set to test the likes of defending champion Phil Mickelson, two-time major winner Rory McIlroy, former US Open champion Justin Rose and Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter.

“Lassie wouldn’t find that if it was wrapped in bacon,” was Poulter’s memorable description of the difficulties of finding a ball in the heavy rough after Wednesday’s pro-am.

And the world number 24 admitted there is the danger of being mentally exhausted by the end of the week if tough conditions prevail on the North Sea coast.

“I can definitely see it because just playing the pro-am I got off the course feeling beaten up by the wind,” said Poulter, who was joint third at Muirfield last year.

“It is going to be a stern test this week with the weather and, it seems, having three different winds on this golf course. That will drain you mentally I think; we’re not going to play one course, it looks like we are going to play three.

“It will be challenging from that respect and it will be difficult scoring around this golf course. It’s not easy. It might even be more difficult this week than next week.

“Nobody likes to play in torrential rain and 35mph wind. But we do get spoiled for the most part, following the sunshine around, and if there’s a storm 30 miles away we’re off the course and in having a coffee with you boys (the media).

“We can go very soft, although I’ve been soft from day one. I guess from time to time it is nice to be beaten up every now and then and realise what some of the guys have to put up with when they go out to play golf.

“It’s a true test of golf. It’s hard and it should be and it’s a serious test for everybody this week.”

McIlroy, who has not played in the Scottish Open since 2009, added: “I think it will be good for some of the guys, because it’s definitely not a gentle introduction to links golf this year.

“I missed out on Castle Stuart (the venue from 2011-2013) the last few years because I didn’t really feel like it provided a true links test. That’s why I took the week off before the Open the last few years and played links golf at home in Northern Ireland or went and prepared at whatever course the Open was at that year.

“But now that the Scottish Open is here at Royal Aberdeen and it’s a true links test, I think a lot of guys have come to the realisation that to play competitive golf and to play it on a course like this, could really benefit you going into next week.”

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