Poulter's caddie hit by illness
Ian Poulter’s caddie has been diagnosed as suffering from pneumonia and will miss the rest of the BMW International Open in Munich.
Jimmy Rae felt ill during yesterday’s first round, but managed to complete all 18 holes as Poulter carded a seven-under-par 65 to finish one shot behind overnight leader Bernhard Langer.
He was diagnosed with the illness at a hospital in Munich on Thursday evening and is likely to remain in hospital for several days before flying home.
Poulter has asked Colin Montgomerie’s caddie Andy Prodger to fly out in time for his second round this afternoon, but it remains to be seen if he can make it from his home in Perth for the 1:10pm start time.
Meanwhile, Southampton’s Richard Bland had taken over at the top of the leaderboard on a misty morning at Nord-Eichenried.
Bland, a close friend of former Southampton and England footballer Matthew Le Tissier, picked up birdies at the fourth, sixth and seventh to move to 10 under par, two clear of Langer and Scot Alastair Forsyth.
Starting on the 10th, Forsyth had opened with four straight birdies to move to eight under.
