#Ian Poulter finds his Ryder Cup passion at Augusta on Masters Day Two"

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Ian Poulter finds his Ryder Cup passion at Augusta on Masters Day Two

One of the most unusual Masters traditions is the need to play a round of golf with an Augusta National member upon arrival.

It gives players the chance to meet a wide range of 80-year-old, white, rich, Republicans .

Ian Poulter played his 18 holes with Lou Holtz, in many ways the stereotype Augusta member. Holtz is white, 82, an active Republican, a supporter of Donald Trump the fervent opponent of Colin Kaepernick & # 39; s protest against the knee in the NFL and a regular at Fox News. Ian Poulter has held his courage to keep the Masters in battle with America & # 39; s best "

In 2006 he had to apologize for calling. ]

What distinguishes Holtz from many of his fellow members, however, is a background in top sport. Holtz was also a very successful football coach at the college and later a colorful analyst of the game.

He is famous for his motivational speeches and spicy words of encouragement. & # 39; No one has ever drowned in sweat & # 39 ;, Holtz said.

And when they played, Holtz detected a player in Poulter who needed a pep talk. So I delivered one. I thought Poulter didn't think he could win in Augusta. Poulter is known for his Ryder Cup performances, but less when it comes to majors "

<img id =" i-f489f658a41ad11 "src =" https: //i.dailymail. co.uk/1s/2019/04/12/20/12206370-0-image-a-40_1555096153436.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt ="] Poulter is known for its Ryder Cup performance, but less when it comes to majors "

Poulter is known for his Ryder Cup performances, but less when it comes to majors comes to majors

Holtz begged to be And by the time Poulter left the 13th green as the outright leader six under par, a few people did too. & # 39; If what you did yesterday seems great, you haven't done anything today. & # 39;

Poulter did great things at the Masters on Thursday and got big again on Friday, not as spectacular as his round of 68 but enough to stay around the top of a leaderboard populated by the best American and and the strange European invader.

It was a wonderful two days for Poulter to win the Houston Open last year – the last event for Augusta – just to earn the right to be here. He had dropped to 220 in the world ranking three years ago; he now lives at 33.

See how superior players have struggled around this course – Justin Rose, the number one in the world, spent much of the day flirting with a missed wink – Poulter's struggle for supremacy at the age of 43 it was nothing short of remarkable.

He is one of those players, such as Colin Montgomerie, who seemed destined to be remembered for his wild performance as a team player in the Ryder Cup, he has won 20 tournaments, but no Majors. Poulter and Paul Casey went to this tournament and were tied to the players who had played the most Majors, 59, without winning.

Casey was nine past par after 18 holes, but this was Poulter as we see him every other year. Complained, competitive, brave, challenging.

I fired a shot at the first when I found a fairway bunker off the tee, but immediately got it back with a birdie on the second. From there, he delivered an incredibly consistent series of nine straight pearls – a piece in which he spurned different bird chances, and dug deep for different saves.

If this had been a Ryder Cup, there would have been images of Poulter roaring, pumping first, in front of an equally noisy crowd. But these are the masters, so Poulter played it right away.

<img id = "i-14225ebef3d1acaa" src = "https://dailym.ai/2G7vW0y -41_1555096158539.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-14225ebef3d1acaa" src = "https://dailym.ai/2Z7549r 20 / 12206374-0-image-a-41_1555096158539.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" Compared to earlier bright clothing from previous years, Poulter has dressed conservatively on day two "Poulter has dressed conservatively on day two "

Compared to earlier bright attire of years ago, Poulter dressed conservatively on day two

His wave was not & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; His wave was not. A subdued moan and a muttered & # 39; ah, my word & # 39; greeted an iron gaze in a bunker on the seventh. However, his recovery from the sand was beautiful. I also found a bunker on the eighth, but the goal with such a flair swore the misread birdie putt.

As America knows, at the Ryder Cup, Poulter never knows when he is beaten and while a strokeplay tournament rarely has the same emotional ride – and certainly not on day two – there were glimpses of that stubborn solution. In ninth, tenth and eleventh place I made test putts to save par.

He could have returned his score in that piece and perhaps he could have done that a few years ago. Here he clung, kept his score, held his hot breath in the neck of the leaders who were now swinging, waiting for his time, carrying out his attack.

His tee shot on the 12th was perfect, sitting exactly as Poulter said, pin high for little bird. He emptied it. On the 13th he got too much from the t-shirt, but recovered to sink birdie putt for the direct leadership.

Francesco Molinari quickly joined him there at six, and Poulter returned one to the next one – I miss the slope – but the point is made.

Poulter played as if he believed, as if he were at home again in this company. Maybe the event also had a Ryder Cup feeling, so many Americans in the clinch. They bring out the best in him; always have.

<img id = "i-cbbb865d0899ac27" src = "https://dailym.ai/2UEkgN2 image-m-43_1555096260125.jpg "height =" 415 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-cbbb865d0899ac27" src = "https://dailym.ai/2CXoYdR /12/20/12206404-0-image-m-43_1555096260125.jpg "height =" 415 "width =" 634 "alt =" [Fellow Brit Paul Casey begon te worstelen terwijl Poulter een stille aanval deed bij Augusta]

Fellow Brit Paul Casey began to struggle while Poulter carried out a silent attack on Augusta

A few holes behind, Poulter & # 39; s compatriot Rose, endured a scorching afternoon. Whoever played before this tournament started, he seemed certain he could do with mentoring. Every shot brought a discussion, nothing seemed drenched in certainty.

While the cut fluctuated between +3 and +4, Rose's participation fluctuated this weekend. He never missed the cut here, the number one in the world, but only the generous rules of Augusta kept him inside. His wave did his best to release him for two days.

He even found water on the 11th, another shot without confidence. It was 2002 the last time the golfer walked away with a green jacket, but Rose & # 39; s record around Augusta argued against negativity. I have finished in the top five times and in three of the last four years.

Yet a pretty nice photo on the photogenic 12th was a rarity, a proof of the player who could be Rose, instead of the player he saw.

Meanwhile, Poulter looked like the player coach Holtz saw. I just needed a little bit of that 82-year-old wisdom from the white man.

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