Ian Poulter birdied six of the first seven holes, but still had four strokes to make up on Rory McIlroy as the USPGA Championship headed towards its climax at Kiawah Island.

The player seen as the European most likely to end the eight-year drought in the Majors this week does not believe he has to change his “nice guy” image to do it.

Colin Montgomerie, 81st in the world rankings at the start of 2005, now finds himself back up to 22nd following his second place in the Open championship.