Poulter keeps World Cup dream alive

IAN POULTER kept alive his chances of a place in England’s World Cup team in the €3m Linde German Masters which could mean a last-minute reprieve for his tonsils.

Poulter, who carded a second round 63 for a 16-under halfway total of 128, has been troubled by tonsilitis for several years, including during his Wales Open victory earlier this year.

He was bed-ridden for two days before finishing third in the Lancome Trophy on Sunday and has booked an appointment to have his tonsils removed on November 11.

That is just two days before the start of the World Cup at Kiawah Island however, and Poulter can still get into the two-man team if he claims his third win of the season on Sunday.

Poulter, needs to win to overhaul Justin Rose in the world rankings and renew his 2001 World Cup partnership with Paul Casey.

Victory tomorrow would also be worth the small matter of €500,000 and the same number of Ryder Cup points, well over half the amount with which Phil Price secured the last automatic qualifying place for The Belfry last year.

Poulter was next in line for the team and just 30,000 points behind, and is a good bet to go at least one better this time and qualify for the European team which will defend the trophy at Oakland Hills next September.

“It’s a huge week,” said Poulter, who was overlooked for a wildcard in favour of Sergio Garcia and Jesper Parnevik.

“I just want to focus on what I have been for the last few weeks and keep hitting good golf shots, and if I do that I think I can take care of the Ryder Cup points with no problem.

Poulter’s 63 contained nine birdies, he is yet to drop a shot this week, and gave him a one-shot lead over Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, who equalled the best round of the day with a 62.

Fellow Malaga resident Carlos Rodiles was a shot further behind alongside Marbella-based Englishman Miles Tunnicliff, who was one of two players in with a chance of shooting the first ever 59 on the European Tour.

Tunnicliff went to the turn in 29 and was nine under after 13 holes, but bogeyed the 14th and finished with a 63, while Dane Anders Hansen was 10 under after 13 holes but could only manage one more birdie and then three-putted the last.

Overnight leader Fredrik Jacobson, who needed to birdie the last on Thursday for a 59, could only manage a second round 71, but he and Poulter still totalled 32 birdies and an eagle between them over the first two days.

It was a bad day for the Irish contingent with just three players making the cut. Darren Clarke shot a 71 for a 136 total, Paul McGinley a 72 for 139, with Graeme McDowell shooting a successive 70 to just make the cut.

Colin Montgomerie managed seven birdies in two rounds and missed the cut on two under.

The Scot arrived in Cologne with his third caddie of the year in fellow Royal Troon member Colin Cotter, but it is on the greens that his problems lie.

The former European number one reverted to the belly putter after two rounds with a standard-size club, but averaged 32 putts per round on his brief stay in Germany.

The 40-year-old was in distinguished company in missing the cut at least, Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer, Padraig Harrington and Nick Faldo all heading home early.

However, Lee Westwood did manage to avoid a second successive missed cut following his comeback victory in Munich.

The former European number one storming home in 30 for a 67 and six under for the tournament.