Golf-Sizzling Poulter surges five clear at Singapore Open (Reuters)
October 31, 2009
By John O’Brien
SINGAPORE, Oct 31 (Reuters) – Briton Ian Poulter stormedfive shots clear of the field at the rain-hit Singapore Open onSaturday, returning early to complete a flawless seven-under 64second round for a 12-under-par total.
The 33-year-old Poulter took a six-week break prior to thisweek’s co-sanctioned $5 million event and the rest appears tohave rejuvenated the flamboyant Englishman, who has recordedjust one bogey in 36 holes around the demanding SerapongCourse.
“I am a little surprised to be playing well after thebreak. Six weeks off, you never know how you are going toplay,” Poulter told reporters.
“As much practice as I put in prior to coming here, I hadbarely played a round of golf. I enjoyed the range work andresting up after that and it has served me well in the lastcouple of days.”
Overnight leader Daniel Chopra of Sweden is tied for secondwith Taiwanese qualifier Chan Yih-shin, one clear of a group ofsix players on six-under which includes South Africa’s ErnieEls, Swede Niclas Fasth and Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen.
Following weather delays in the opening two days, only 61players had completed their second round by Friday, forcingPoulter and a majority of the field to return to the courseearly on Saturday.
SURGE CLEAR
The Briton had made a good start on Friday evening to joinclubhouse leader Chopra on seven-under par and he continued toburn up the course on his resumption, birdying three of thenext five holes to surge three clear by the turn.
“I went out last night and played a couple of holes and gota couple of birdies where my approaches were really close,”Poulter added. “This morning, I carried on where I left off andsank a few putts.”
He added two more birdies on a steady back nine to leavehimself in a strong position to record his first European Tourvictory since winning the Madrid Open in Sept. 2006.
“I am just going to keep hitting the shots I am hitting. Ifelt as if I am playing pretty steady,” Poulter said.
“Hopefully, there’s some better golf to come. It soundssilly with a five-shot lead, but my game is not quite there. Iam feeling my way into a week so it should get better and therewill be more good scores to come.”
The cut was made at one-over par, meaning big names GeoffOgilvy of Australia and Korea’s K.J. Choi (both +2) failed toqualify for the final two rounds.
American world number two Phil Mickelson (-2), Briton’sJustin Rose (par), Ireland’s Padraig Harrington (+1) and twiceformer champion Adam Scott (+1) will all be around for theremainder of the tournament.
(Editing by Nick Mulvenney; To query or comment on thisstory email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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