Poulter's Open finish sees him well off the pace
Ian Poulter's dream of winning the Open Championship is over for another year, despite the Englishman having played some decent golf at St Andrews today - though at too late a juncture to influence the outcome.
Poulter started strongly with five birdies on the front nine (plus a bogey), but he could only find one more bogey on the back nine, while two bogeys and a double on the 17th meant there was no dazzling finish for the 34-year-old. Poulter finished one-under-par 71 today, three-over for the tournament - and he was frank about his poor play.
"I just didn't hole any putts. That's it in a nutshell." So what did Poulter make of current leader Louis Oosthuizen's chances of victory?
"I wouldn't have backed him at the start of the week. But a four-shot lead going into Sunday? I'd be over the moon. This is a nice place to have a four-shot lead, that's for sure. I've not looked into Louis's background in terms of what he's been like when he's been up there challenging but he's playing great, he hardly missed a shot yesterday and, if he keeps playing down the left and putts like he did yesterday, then someone will have to shoot something very special to beat him."
Poulter has had a difficult Open, hardly helped by an incident yesterday where a spectator's abusive comment caused the world No. 8 some displeasure; when Poulter attempted to enlist a steward's help in reprimanding the heckler, the steward instead accused Poulter of "invading his space," and the pair appeared on the verge of a fracas.
Thankfully the exchange fizzled out, much like Poulter's challenge (zing! Sorry Ian.) Poults carded his worst round of the tournament on Saturday, two bogeys and a double seeing him come home 76. At least he finished today in better form than that; now Poulter needs to find a way to motivate himself for next month's PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
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