IAN POULTER HAS reflected on what has been an extremely successful year ahead of this week’s Australian Masters.
The world number 16 was a key figure in Europe’s memorable Ryder Cup victory over the USA in September, winning all four matches he played, as well as winning his second World Golf Championship earlier this month.
And Poulter, who will face the Kingston Heath course for the first time in tournament play, is confident his good form can lead him to another victory.
“The year’s been pretty good. I would have said it was a very steady year playing as well as I played in the majors finishing top 10 in three of them,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“The Ryder Cup always kind of lights my fire and that was a pretty good week, to say the least.
The HSBC Champions event was obviously a big win and I’m glad to obviously come here in good form and hopefully try and put the jacket on.”
Despite his confidence, the 36-year-old’s week did not get off to the best start with his clubs being delayed on their way to Australia which has prevented him from getting some practice time out on the course.
But Poulter refuses to view the unfortunate circumstance as a setback, claiming it won’t matter much when the tournament tees off on Thursday.
“No, I think it’s a result looking back on it,” he said.
“I would have liked to have gone and hit some balls. Certainly probably wouldn’t have played yesterday [due to strong winds] but I definitely would have hit a few shots.
“My caddy thinks it’s a result that the clubs got stuck in LA because, you know, how well are you really going to practice once you’ve just got off a long flight like that? Sometimes it can be more damaging to go out there and hit balls.”
Poulter, who won last year’s JBWere Masters at Victoria Golf Club, also took time to explain his aversion to playing practice rounds before tournaments, claiming it allows him to ‘stay fresh’.
People over-complicate this game of golf way too often. There’s eighteen tees and eighteen greens and some par threes in the middle. It really isn’t any more complicated than that,” he said.
“Had I had my clubs I could have played yesterday, today and tomorrow, but it’s not going to put me in a good position come Sunday when I need that little extra bit of energy to try and pull me through.
“It’s just about being fresh, that’s all it is.
The Englishman also weighed into the debate surrounding long putters, decisively calling for them to be banned from the sport.
“Ban it. End of story,” he said.
“You shouldn’t anchor the butt end of the club, I think that’s what it says in the rule book, right?
“I guess it’s only become an issue because so many people have actually converted to it. They [the rule-makers] need to make a decision to let us all know what’s happening.”
