British Open Profile: Ian Poulter

Best Odds: 55/1 (PaddyPower)
Age: 37
World Ranking: 20
Best Results in Open: 2nd - 2008, T9 - 2012

Open Record:

Finished in style at Birkdale in 2008 to claim an honourable second behind Harrington. In a tournament where the winner posted a +3 score for four rounds, the flamboyant Englishman’s 69 on the Sunday was exceptional. He also nabbed a T9 last year but perhaps his 2002 Muirfield experience could prove most telling, similar as it was to Tiger Woods. The Ryder Cup star opened 69-69 to put himself right in the hunt before he got blown away in the Saturday storm, carding a 78.

Form:

After topping the bill in the Ryder Cup last September, Poulter has failed to match those heights in regular competition. But what’s interesting to see if how his results often looks less competitive than they really were. A T21 at the US Open was fine but could have been much better without a final round 76 and it was the same story recently in the French Open - T25 after a closing 73.

Verdict:

Poulter’s tendency to let things drift a little when the chance of victory is gone just reinforces the view that this guy thrives entirely on drama and the chance of glory. Six top-ten finishes in majors shows he can get into contention but it would be a surprise if this was the week he broke his major duck; negative comments about the rough, or rather the ‘hay’, suggest he is ready to implode already.