Poulter: Yes or no?

Ian Poulter has never been one to shy away from a bit of publicity. Every Open Championship we are all treated to his wild and wacky wardrobe for a couple of days before everyone loses interest and life carries on as normal.

Perhaps his self-confidence is the main reason he is one of the top 25 players in the world, and therefore how he needs to be to perform at his best, but this week he appeared to have really excelled himself.

In a recent interview with Golf World he is reported to have said: "The trouble is I don't rate anyone else. Don't get me wrong, I respect everyone who is a professional. But the problem is I haven't played to my full potential yet. And when that happens it will just be me and Tiger."

He then supposedly went on to predict that Woods would win the Masters and that he himself would pick up the US Open (to be fair he is probably 50 per cent right).

Needless to say Poulter has since claimed that he was misquoted and it's not often that I would say this but I do feel a bit sorry for the Englishman. He is too outspoken at times, and plenty of us aren't overly keen on anyone with so much bravado, but he is also mischievous and it is unlikely that anybody could be that deluded.

Poulter offered his thoughts after an opening 70 in Dubai: "I have had it on my mind since last night. You put the internet on and it's THE (golf) story. I have to try and explain the situation of how it was actually said, as opposed to how it has been written. Two very different themes.

"That's how it has come out but that's not how it was said and that's a shame...a great shame. You let people in your house for three hours and you do a nice, private interview and this is what happens. Very unfortunate."

True to form he also added that getting to number two in the world was a real possibility. Getting a place in this year's Ryder Cup team should be enough to concern him for the next few months.

By Mark Townsend

Trip down memory Lane

Here at NCG we’d like to offer up our congratulations to Barry Lane for reaching the milestone of 600 European Tour events.

In a career spanning over 25 years the Englishman has become only the fifth man to get there behind Malcolm Mackenzie (603), Eamonn Darcy (610), Roger Chapman (617), and Sam Torrance (702), and no doubt by the time the 2008 season is over he will only have Torrance in his sights.

Personally I hope he supersedes that mark and becomes the longest serving European Tour player in history, it’s an honour he deserves as one of the stalwarts of the tour. Whether anyone will catch him remains to be seen, but it will take plenty of hard graft and dedication, something Barry has shown in bundles.

If you’ve caught any of the golf on Sky this week you’ll no doubt have seen him reminiscing about some of the lighter moments in his career as well as some of the tougher times, all of which is well worth listening to.

It took Barry three years to get from 500 to 600 appearances and the 47-year-old has a similar timeframe to chase down Torrance before having the option of joining the Seniors Tour, a place where he will surely thrive and recapture that winning feeling.

With a little bit of luck Barry has put the worst of his injury troubles behind him after missing a chunk of the 2005 season with a knee injury and has plenty of healthy and competitive years ahead of him. You never know, with a little more luck he could even take the record from Des Smyth as being the oldest winner on tour.

By Will Spence

Wild Goose

Two of the things I've often pondered are a) having laser surgery and b) growing a beard. Both are no longer considerations.

These big decisions have been made in the last 10 minutes having read that Retief Goosen will not defend his Qatar Masters title after complications following recent eye surgery.

If, as you would suspect, that Retief has splashed out and paid for the best that money can get, and is still not right, then it does not bode well for me scratching around looking for the cheapest deal on the market.

The second was more of a curiosity rather than a genuine dilemma and the picture here confirms that nobody looks better with any facial hair, let alone a full-on beard.

The suave South African now resembles a distant relative of Chris Bonington and, to make matters worse, there appears to be a hint of ginger and grey in there. No, I will battle on with an in-built laziness and get the old Gillette out when things start to get a bit itchy up top.

By Mark Townsend

Seve shines on Setanta

Last night, while waiting for the football to begin, I had the usual flick through the sports channels and was lucky enough to stumble across The Open Years 1984 on Setanta. Everyone remembers their first time and this was the case 23 years ago when I sat through my first Major for pretty much four days and it was as thrilling last night as it was back then.

The fashions and course looked magnificent and these were matched by the true star of the show. If anyone wasn't lucky enough to watch Seve Ballesteros, in the flesh or on tv, then they should make the most of these little nuggets. The swing was fearless, quick and athletic, and bore no resemblance to the one he employed in his last few years on the tour. His short game was sublime.

The shot of the championship came at the Road Hole 17th, a hole the Spaniard had bogeyed the previous days, but when it really mattered he nailed a six-iron 200 yards into the heart of the green.

Tom Watson, playing in the group behind, took a tighter line off the tee and then, in one of the more curious club selections of all time smoked a two-iron over the green, landing on the road, and finishing beside the wall.

Moments later maybe the finest celebration ever? Seve's putt never looked like going in until the last mini-second when it just toppled in from the top side. Cue the fist-pumping and look of the happiest man on the planet.

For all us sentimental types there is always a hint of sadness. Wouldn't it be great to see Seve battling away occasionally on the Seniors Tour or at least dazzle us for two days at the Open but this isn't going to happen and it's a shame. But then again with memories like these there is still plenty to smile about.
By Mark Townsend

Finally a quick quiz question - Who holed the last putt in 1984 for a birdie and a 79 before going on to win the Championship in the early 90s? Scroll down for the answer







A: Ian Baker-Finch

Deadly dozen

What if the Ryder Cup returned to its roots and was contested by the United States and Great Britain and Ireland?

Firstly, there¹d be no room for the likes of Garcia, Stenson and Fasth. Secondly, Nick Faldo would have to make it up with Monty.

Just for fun, here¹s my British and Irish dozen to take on the States at Valhalla.

Justin Rose
Padraig Harrington
Luke Donald
Ian Poulter
Lee Westwood
Paul Casey
Colin Montgomerie
Nick Dougherty
Darren Clarke
Bradley Dredge
Graeme McDowell
Rory McIlroy

Now I don't think this particular dozen would disgrace themselves in the States if Continental Europe decided not to show up in September. What do you think?

By James Varley

Cut policy set to be spliced

Last week 18 players appeared to make the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii, were then paid for making the cut but didn't play another shot in the tournament. The reason for this is the newly-introduced, and seemingly ludicrous, MDF status next to the player's name.

MDF (somehow) stands for "Made Cut, Did Not Finish" and has been brought into use this year to have as near to 70 players competing at the weekend. If more than 78 'make the cut' then that number is trimmed so, in Hawaii, 18 of the field, including Angel Cabrera (pictured), were paid a share of last place earnings and played no further part in the tournament.

Needless to say the ruling has not been met with universal acclaim and the last two American Ryder Cup captains have already made their feelings known.

Paul Azinger said: “I think the Tour should change the rule immediately. This has an impact on the Ryder Cup and an impact on the FedEx Cup. They’re going to pay you not to play. I think that’s awful.”

K Club skipper Tom Lehman was equally dismissive, adding: "Overall, I think it’s simply unfortunate is the best way I can say it. I understand why they chose to do it, but I’ve never been a promoter of doing something because it’s easier. Let’s not err on the side of convenience. We should be maximizing a player’s ability to make a living and move up in the game.

“I think this looks bad, and we should find a way to change it. There are ways of getting things done with a vote of the players. There’s a way to make it happen. Things can be changed.”

The ruling was brought in last November but do not expect to see it enjoy too long a run. On the Saturday in Hawaii an unidentified player left a petition, using the back of a paper place mat, with the question: Are you in favour of the current cut policy?

Not one player added their name to the column marked 'yes'. Expect to see a very quick reversal by the PGA Tour.

By Mark Townsend

Poulter to be great in 08

Year after year, the glorious game of golf tends to throw up a surprise package from absolutely nowhere.

In 2006 Australia's Geoff Ogilvy capitalised on final-hole failings from Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie to win the US Open and in 2007 Zach Johnson and Angel Cabrera picked unlikely Majors.

It would, therefore, be a surprise if 2008 did not come up with a shock somewhere along the line.

One man who I believe will come to the fore this year is England's Ian Poulter. Since the man from Milton Keynes won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award in 1999, he's performed consistently on both sides of the Atlantic, positioned himself in the top 30 of the world and made one Ryder Cup appearance.

And although he's probably better known for his outlandish dress and appearances on TV shows such as Soccer AM at present, I fully expect that to change this year, mainly due to an event that takes place at Valhalla in late September.

So far in his career, Arsenal fan Poulter has tended to make the cut at Majors without featuring at the business-end of events and to date has bagged just one top-10 finish – at the USPGA in  2006. That said, he did play in all four rounds of every Major in 2007 and managed a top-13 finish at the Masters. 

Augusta National, home of the Masters, may be a track that suits Poulter's game. He's long enough off the tee when required and is capable of getting up and down under pressure.

Also, in each of his three appearances there Poulter has made the cut, with a worst finish of 33rd.

Making Nick Faldo's final 12 for Kentucky will be Poulter's primary aim and I believe that particular bounty will spur him on in 2008 – possibly to  Major success.

The 32-year-old loved every minute of his debut at Oakland Hills in 2004, under the captaincy of Bernhard Langer, and would love to be a part of a second American success story.

By James Varley

Chopra opens Ryder door

A couple of months ago in the NCG offices, for a bit of fun, we all predicted what Nick Faldo's European team would look like come September's Ryder Cup.

I won't embarrass either myself or my colleagues by revealing some of the names that came up but I will admit that Daniel Chopra's was not among them.

But the US-based Swede has now won twice in the space of less than three months, and also featured in a play-off for the Australian Masters. He won the PGA Tour's Ginn sur Mer Classic in late October, and that earned him a place at Kapalua for the Mercedes. By claiming the season-opener, following a play-off with Steve Striker, the 34-year-old has suddenly vaulted into second place on Europe's world points list. The top five on this list at the cut-off point in August will automatically make it onto Faldo's team.

Chopra has already a place at the Masters and his ranking is now high enough to guarantee entry into at least the first two WGC events, which take place in February and March respectively.

This all means he has a great chance to cement his place. The only problem is, Chopra is not a member of the European Tour, which must change if he is to be eligible to make the team. This brings with it the requirement to play in at least 11 events. Chopra, then, will have to alter his schedule, albeit not that significantly should he go on to play in all four Majors and the three WGC events.

Most likely, a couple of events around The Open, such as the Scottish Open, will help him to the required number.

As a hardened member of the PGA Tour, Chopra would surely be an asset to the European team but his form does make life more difficult for the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Carl Pettersson, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal and Ian Poulter. All of these players are likely to have targeted the world points list as their most likely method of qualifying for the team, because they play much of their golf away from the European Tour.

It all suggests that this will be the most competitive race for to make the European team we have ever seen.

By Dan Murphy