Ian Poulter hits improbable opening-round 66 in Abu Dhabi after just six hours sleep and 34-hour journey
Did Phileas Fogg play golf? If so, even Jules Verne’s globe-circling protagonist would have been impressed at Ian Poulter’s journey halfway around the world to take his place high up on the Abu Dhabi Championship leaderboard.
No practice round, a 34-hour journey taking him 12,000 miles and then a six-hour sleep with a 14-hour time difference and still Poulter managed to post six under.
Indeed, of all the eye-watering statistics he reeled off in his incredible adventure from Hawaii to the Arabian Desert, none seemed anymore spectacular than this first-round 66.
At 43 years of age, Poulter departed Honolulu on Sunday at 11.30pm after finishing 33rd in the Sony Open. He reached Los Angeles at 6.30am Monday and endured a nine-hour lay-over before boarding the flight to Dubai. He landed at 10.15pm on Tuesday night, picked up his bags and made the hour transfer to Abu Dhabi, getting to sleep at midnight. This tournament’s Wednesday start allowed him no time to prepare and even the afternoon tee time barely helped.
“I woke up 6am and was pleased with that as sometimes with jet lag you feel you’ve had a good sleep but then check your watch and realise you’ve only been asleep for an hour,” Poulter said.
“I had to hang on until lunchtime today and then it was a case of going as low as I could, as quickly as I could and then just trying to hold on. I was six under after 13 but the last five holes were a struggle.
“Someone told me that it was 2.30am in Hawaii when I tapped in on the 18th here, but in truth I don’t know what time it felt like. This is one of my best rounds ever, bearing in mind the travel and everything.”
Why did Poulter go to all this effort? Well, there is almost certainly the little matter of a hefty appearance fee but also, with this $7 million purse as a Rolex Series event, the chance to put early points on the board.
“When I found out this was a Wednesday start, I did consider pulling out, but then I thought if I can get a decent start to the year, it will ease my schedule later,” Poulter said.
“I feel pretty confident we can go out and have some fun this year after what I achieved in 2018 [a win and six other top 10s]. I’ve never felt better, to be honest. Well, a bit tired, obviously.”
Poulter is in a tie for sixth, four shots behind Shane Lowry. The Irishman’s 10-under 62 not only equalled the course record but also the lowest round of his career.
After losing his PGA Tour card last season, Lowry – who is 75th in the world after cracking the top 20 in 2015 – has decided to concentrate on the European Tour as he targets the 2020 Ryder Cup. There are 18 months until the next match in Wisconsin but with his close friend, Padraig Harrington, named as captain last week, the 31-year-old cannot help but plot his route.
“That is my main goal over the next year and a half,” Lowry said. “I’ve yet to play in the Ryder Cup and to make my debut with Padraig as captain would be a dream. The first thing I need to do is get back into the world’s top 50.”
Lowry is three shots clear of a group on seven under including former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, with Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer alongside Poulter. Westwood birdied the first four holes and, as his resurgence continues, the 45-year-old spoke of the positive influence of Ben Davies.
The sports psychologist is the protégé of Steve Peters, the Team Sky guru whose book The Chimp Paradox is so celebrated.
