WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS:WINNING BRINGS its obvious rewards but for Ian Poulter victory at last month's Accenture Match Play, the first by an Englishman in a world championship, was about more than the money – it was about acceptance into an exclusive club of top-class players.
“Greg Norman gave me a call, Nick Faldo dropped me a line and Arnold Palmer wrote me a letter,” said Poulter yesterday, after he played a practice round at Doral on the eve of the CA Championship, the second world championship of the year.
“I can’t express how much it means. Greg was just off to Asia and took time out of his schedule to call. And when Arnie sends you a letter to say he was watching and ‘congratulations, well played’ it can’t really get better than that.
“I was asked the question straight after I won what it meant and I couldn’t answer it, but when you have people you’ve admired and followed contacting you and saying the things they said it’s great.”
Even more unexpected, perhaps, was a congratulatory message from Colin Montgomerie, Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, whose relationship with Poulter through the years might kindly be described as tempestuous.
With eight months to go before the contest against the US at Celtic Manor Poulter, now ranked number five in the world, was assured of a place in the team – a stark contrast to 2008, when his selection as a wildcard pick by Faldo was the source of much criticism, both of the then European captain and of the player himself.
“I can have fun and I’ve never had that mindset in a Ryder Cup year. Winning such a big event so early in the year has taken the pressure off and that’s massive,” Poulter said.
The next challenge facing him is to win a major, with next month’s Masters being his most immediate target. Ambitious perhaps but, as he has proved time and again during his assent from a five-handicap assistant club pro to one of the pre-eminent players in the game, nothing propels him onwards more than the desire to defy other people’s expectations.
At the very least he will travel to Augusta as one of the pre-tournament favourites, just as he as arrived in Miami this week as one of the favourites to take the $1.4 million (€1m) winner’s cheque. Every top player in world is in the field with the exception of Ryo Ishikawa, who is attending his high school graduation in Japan, and Tiger Woods.
The course: TPC Blue Monster, Doral, Miami, Florida.
Prize money: €6.2 million (€1 million to winner).
Field: 68.
Length: 7,266 yards. Par: 72.
Layout: Known as the Blue Monster because of all the water hazards. With over 100 bunkers and many fairway traps, it is a tough test off the tee. The ninth across the water is the most interesting of the short holes.
Last year's winner: Phil Mickelson.
On TV: Sky Sports (7pm today)
Irish tee times: * McIlroy: 4.56pm, *McDowell: 5.17pm; Harrington: 5.49pm. (*10th hole)
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