interview
The Defending
Champ Ron Totton and Alex Jenkins catch up with Ian Poulter as he prepares to replicate last year's Hong Kong Open glory
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welve months ago Ian Poulter put on a four-round master class at the Hong Kong Open to secure his second tournament win of the year. By anyone's reckoning, his play was sublime. Kicking off with a tidy 67, the outspoken Englishman wowed the Fanling galleries on the second day when he tore round in just 60 strokes. Following up with rounds of 64 and another 67, Poulter – the golf world's most popular tweeter with a staggering 1.2 million followers – eventually prevailed by a shot from countryman Simon Dyson and exciting young Italian talent Matteo Manassero. That epic performance, many thought, would have been the catalyst that lifted Poulter on to bigger things. Yes, he finished second a week later at the Dubai World Championship – famously incurring a penalty in the play-off after accidentally dropping his ball on his diamond-encrusted platinum marker to lose to Robert Karlsson – and then he won the World Match Play event in Spain in May. But 2011 cannot be considered a standout year, not by Poulter's standards at any rate. Missed cuts at the US Open and The Open were bookended by mid-field finishes at the Masters and US PGA, putting Poulter's major ambitions on hold for yet another season. But the 35-year-old is not one to dwell on past misfortune. Indeed, Poulter – once maligned as simply a snapper dresser, one lacking the all around game to challenge for the biggest titles – is nothing if not confident. His pathway into the professional game tells us that. Unlike any other world-class golfer – and Poulter, who in 2010 reached the heady heights of number five in the world rankings, is certainly that – the defending Hong Kong Open champion did not enjoy an impressive amateur career. Indeed, Poulter had no amateur career to speak of at all. Turning pro with a handicap of four at the age of 19, this engaging North Londoner (and avid Arsenal supporter) spent more time in the following three years re-gripping clubs and selling confectionary in the pro shop at a local golf facility near to his hometown of Stevenage than he did practicing. But it was the confidence and belief in himself and his game that took him first to the Challenge Tour and thenceforth to the far grander stage of the European Tour and , in 2005, to the PGA Tour. His story – in the modern game, at least – is unique. Now, of course, he is heralded as not only a wonderful Ryder Cup player – he is something of a match play specialist – but also something of a businessman. Launching IJP Design four years ago, Poulter's energy and enthusiasm (not to mention style) has made a success of his much-talked-about clothing line. But despite his off-course apparel adventures, Poulter remains firmly focused on his original ambition: being a winner, which is something he is all too keen to replicate at Fanling next month.
Charles McLaughlin
Sensational Showing: Poulter's showing at the 2010 edition of the Hong Kong Open was one of the best in the tournament's 53 year history 40
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You came into the event very confident, and even told Graeme McDowell beforehand that you’d win. Was this a gut feeling, or were you just playing so well that you thought you’d leave everyone in your wake? Unlike a lot of players I have an off season at the end of September or early October and last year I was working really hard on my game and my fitness during my break. I came back to the Asian swing [of events] with confidence, feeling fresh and revived and ready to take on everyone. I was having lunch with Graeme and I told the lads that I was going to win that week! Everyone started to laugh but I told them that I just knew I was going to win – I just felt so good and so confident and I did it! Where does the self-belief come from? Do you do anything to work on confidence? As a young boy I always had the belief in my ability and this was instilled by my father. Whether it was football, pole vault, anything – I believed if I applied myself and did it to the best of my ability that I could achieve anything. I have always enjoyed being under pressure and to be forced to go out and deliver – I just love pressure and I thrive on it. When I think back to my school reports they always would suggest that when I applied myself I can accomplish anything ... but also the report said that I was easily distracted. That is maybe why my record in match play is better than that of stroke play events. It has highlighted something I have really worked on – staying focused on the shot at hand and I have been working on that in my game to take to stroke play events.
"It was very exciting to come down the home stretch with a chance to shoot 59. I love playing Fanling – it's very much an 'Old School' layout."
Courtesy of IJP Design
What are your memories of last year’s Hong Kong Open? Great memories of last year’s win at the Hong Kong Open. I had an opportunity to shoot 59 [in the second round] and it was very exciting to come down the stretch with a chance to do it. It was great to have the opportunity and I almost pulled it off – loved the feeling of coming to the end of the round with that kind of opportunity. I was very proud of how I played and I can’t wait to come back to defend as I love playing The Hong Kong Golf Club course – it's very much an 'Old School' layout. 42
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thrive in the match play format and just really enjoy the pressure and just seem to do well. I always have done. With good results at all four majors last year, a couple of wins and a near miss in Dubai you were poised to break into the top 10 in the Official Golf World Rankings. This year has seen your ranking slip a little [at the time of press Poulter was ranked 28]. Is that a result of trying to change anything in your game? Although I won a tournament this year I am disappointed in my performance and in my results. I'm building a new home and have various business interests – I felt I allowed myself to become a little distracted, which affected my game and my performance on the golf course. After some time off at home I have worked hard and am very focused on my game. I'm very excited about getting back on the golf course. I look forward to great results this coming season – although defending my Hong Kong Open title is certainly a big priority before that starts.
You're definitely classed as a world player, but how difficult is it to balance both the US and European tours when there is so much money on offer on both – particularly with the Race to Dubai and the FedEx Cup offering such rewards? Obviously it is tough to travel as much as I do but I have always committed to playing both the European and PGA Tour. I think the most PGA events I played was 18 in one season. Playing both makes Ryder Cup qualifying difficult but I see myself as a global player with a global brand and enjoy playing around the world. I work really hard to maintain my status on both tours and having won tournaments makes that much easier.
Designs on Life: The Englishman keeps a close eye on his highly regarded apparel brand - IJP Design
Your route to the pro ranks was far from conventional. Did you always believe you would become a top player winning PGA and European Tour tournaments and contending in majors? Speaking of which, which major are you best suited to win? Yes, I have always believed in myself since I was young – it is just who I am. I love the atmosphere
Was there ever any doubt about returning to Hong Kong to defend your title? Not at all, as I I love playing in Asia and love playing the Hong Kong Golf Club, which is a great test and has stood the test of time. Every year I plan my schedule around playing this Asia swing and this year I am spending a significant amount of time playing in China and Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a vibrant city with a great buzz. Everyone is very happy to host us and show us a great time. As you say, your match play record is perhaps superior than your stroke play record, with wins at both the WGC Match Play last year and the World Match Play in Spain this year – plus, of course, your stellar Ryder Cup record. You must wish there were more match play events? Yes I do. I was very proud when I won the World Match Play – an event that has also been won by Seve, Player, Palmer, Nicklaus and other famous champions. I think I was the first Englishman to win both of those events. I HKGOLFER.COM
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The Bag
DRIVER My 8.5 degree Cobra ZL Encore has an Aldila Phenom 50 gram X flex shaft.
3-WOOD This is a fairly recent change for me, the Cobra AMP, which has a Project 76 gram X flex shaft.
HYBRID I carry a Titleist 12 degree 909H. The shaft is an Aldila NV 85 X flex.
IRONS My 4-7 irons are Cobra S3 pro Cavity Back; my 8 through pitching wedge are Cobra S3 Pro Muscle Back. The shafts are True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour X100.
PUTTER I've had this customized Rife Island Series putter in the bag for a while now. It obviously suits me.
WEDGES I carry two Titleist Vokey Design Spin Milled C-C wedges; 54 and 60 degrees. They are custom grinded and need replacing twice a year.
Distances
"Although I won a tournament this year I am disappointed in my performance and in my results ... I am very focused on my game and am looking forward to getting back on the golf course."
Daniel Wong
Fanling Fun: Poulter gestures to playing partner Rory McIlroy after holing a birdie putt on the ninth hole during last year's Hong Kong Open 44
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of majors with the excitement and media pressure – there is so much buzz around all of those events. I would love to win all four majors obviously – it is what every player wants. Augusta – we play every year and it is a fabulous golf course and requires imagination that I love and I have played well there and led once after 36 holes. At the same time all the other majors are equally important and it’s always nice to return to St Andrew’s every five years. I have yet to win a major and so I have work to do but I am focusing on trying to hit the right shots at the right time. How is the clothing line going? How much time do you spend on that side of the business and is it a good or bad distraction at times?
Things are going very well. I enjoy business and love learning new things. I believe I may be the first player to actually own my own clothing line and haven’t sold the rights to anyone else. I keep a close eye on it and want to make sure we don’t grow too quick. We have all our Tartan’s registered with the Scottish Tartan Authority and control quality for us is key As much as I love business, I love golf and that is my job! I will leave the logistics to the experts and the distributors and to my great team and focus on my golf game. I am very excited about the fall line up though. David Feherty has made a few snide remarks – in fun – of your clubhead speed. Are you doing anything to improve on this? [Laughs] I have been in the gym working very hard – harder than I ever have to be honest. I figure stronger will lead to more power but I don’t mean bigger, just lean and strong. So working hard along with getting the right mix of equipment will help me increase club head speed which is what we are all after! HKGOLFER.COM
CLUB Driver 3-wood Hybrid (17°) Hybrid (21°) 4-iron 5-iron 6-iron 7-iron 8-iron 9-iron PW GW (54°) SW (60°)
BALL I use the Titleist Pro V1x with a black line to identify it as mine. I will never use a #3 ball.
Short Game Expertise
My short game stats have been down this season, so it's something I am seriously looking at improving. But I really enjoy the short game practice and taking on the tough shots. There are so many different techniques to try but what I think is key is to understand is "bounce" and what it makes your golf ball do. Learn that and you will learn to hit any shot – even the most difficult. HKGOLFER.COM
Having 1.2 million followers on Twitter is pretty surreal, I have to say. But amongst us players it's fun and gives us a chance to share with fans some insight into our day-to-day lives. It's amazing how you can share photos and streaming videos ... how we can have some fun and banter between ourselves, freely and openly. There are dangers, but the pluses outweigh the minuses.
YARDS (Carry) 280 250 235 220 210 200 185 172 160 148 135 120 100
Dreamflight
I have been supporting this charity for the past four years and it's something very close to my heart. Every year hundreds of kids with illnesses fly from the UK to Orlando to enjoy the amusement parks for 10 days or so. I get emotional talking about it, to be honest, but it's something I want to be involved in. The charity is wonderful and enables a lot of deserving kids to have a lot of fun. At the end of the day, that's what life should be about. HK Golfer・NOV 2011
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