Poulter gunning for European glory
Arsenal fan Ian Poulter believes he can succeed where the Gunners have failed and be a major success in European competition.
Poulter watched on television in Cologne on Wednesday as his beloved side were beaten 3-0 at Highbury by Inter Milan in the Champions League.
It leaves Arsene Wenger’s side with an uphill task to qualify for the next stage, but Poulter is confident he can qualify for the pinnacle of European golf, namely next year’s Ryder Cup.
The 27-year-old from Hertfordshire in England takes a one-shot lead into today’s third round of the Linde German Masters after a second round 63 at Gut Larchenhof.
And if he can convert that lead into his third win of the season tomorrow, it would be worth €500,000 and the same number of Ryder Cup qualifying points, well over half the amount with which Phil Price secured the last automatic qualifying place for The Belfry last year.
Poulter was next in line for the team and just 30,000 points behind, and is a good bet to go at least one better this time and qualify for the team which will defend the trophy at Oakland Hills next September.
“It is a huge week,” admitted Poulter, who was overlooked for a wild card in favour of Sergio Garcia and Jesper Parnevik. “I just want to focus on what I have been for the last few weeks and keep hitting good golf shots, and if I do that I think I can take care of the Ryder Cup points with no problem.
“My golf is in so much better shape than it was for the last Ryder Cup thanks to all the hard work I did earlier in the year with David Leadbetter, so I should be picking up more points, and if that is the case I should be in the team.”
Poulter’s 63 contained nine birdies – he is yet to drop a shot this week – and edged him in front of Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, who equalled the best round of the day with a 62.
Fellow Malaga resident Carlos Rodiles was a shot further behind alongside Marbella-based Englishman Miles Tunnicliff, who was one of two players in with a chance of shooting the first ever 59 on the European Tour.
Tunnicliff went to the turn in 29 and was nine under after 13 holes, but bogeyed the 14th and finished with a 63, while Dane Anders Hansen was 10 under after 13 holes but could only manage one more birdie and then three-putted the last.
Overnight leader Fredrik Jacobson, who needed to birdie the last on Thursday for a 59, could only manage a second round 71, but he and Poulter still totalled 32 birdies and an eagle between them over the first two days.
