poulterescortedoffturnberry

You would think Ian Poulter is among the most recognisable personalities in golf, wouldn’t you? Wrong.

Poults got his first look at the Turnberry course when he arrived late on Sunday night but it proved a shortlived one as the colourful star was pretty swiftly escorted from the premises!

He revealed: “I turned up at 10 on Sunday night and had a little look at the 18th green. However, the security guards came out and after asking me what I was doing, they told me to get off.

“I said ‘it’s OK I’m playing. ‘ So that was my first look and then I got escorted off in a wagon which was nice,” added Poults, looking to go one better than last year when finishing runner-up to Padraig Harrington.

Poulter has since played a couple of practice rounds on the Ailsa and likes what he has seen – a tough but fair track.

But when the action gets underway on Thursday he won’t be going out with all guns blazing, stressing: “I think you just have to be sensible in these tournaments and try and slow play your way in. It’s not just about firing at pins on a Thursday and Friday.”

Poults reckons Tiger will again be the man they all have to beat but also believes fellow Englishman Lee Westwod could be in for a good week. “I played with Lee at Loch Lomond and although he wasn’t in the best of health he still could have shot a 58 or 59!

“If he’s in that kind of form and is feeling good, I certainly think Lee can have a big week.”

Naturally though Poults hopes he can break his majors duck and be escorted off the Turnberry premises on Sunday… along with the Claret Jug.