Poulter getting Leadbetter all the time

Defending champion Ian Poulter is hoping history is about to repeat itself in the Italian Open starting today.

Poulter won his second Italian Open title in three years in Rome 12 months ago by two shots from former Open champion Paul Lawrie.

Lawrie had moved into a one-shot lead with a birdie on the 17th in the final round while Poulter three-putted, but the Scot then drove out of bounds on the last to gift Poulter a victory he sealed with a closing birdie.

The 27-year-old from Milton Keynes has missed the cut in his last two tournaments this season, however, as he works on swing changes with David Leadbetter, but hopes that will be a good omen at Gardagolf in Brescia.

“The last time I saw David I managed to win the week after in Morocco (in 2001) so I’m hoping we can do something similar this week,” said Poulter, who was on standby for last year’s Ryder Cup if any of the 10 qualifiers on the European team pulled out injured.

“It’s not going to be a 10-minute fix and have it all perfect within a couple of weeks. But I know that if I keep doing the work it will pay off very shortly.

“I felt I didn’t get off to the best of starts this year and had a look at my swing on video. It didn’t please me too much what I saw, so I felt it was the right thing to do to see David.

“He’s got all the right answers and can give me some stuff to work on for the long picture at the end of the day.”

Poulter has briefly consulted Leadbetter twice before when the renowned coach had been working with Poulter’s close friend Justin Rose, and he clearly liked what he saw.

But he admitted it was a big move for him to consult Leadbetter on a more permanent basis, adding: “It’s huge. I’ve done small bits of work on my game back home but it is different to go and have someone really dissect you.

“I was very impressed the two times I saw him before. He never made it too complicated, he came up with the answers to the questions I asked him, which is all you need really.

“I’ve always had a long-term goal of how I want to swing it and it was nice to be told this is how you do it, these are the positions you need to get into, this is what you have to work towards.

“You have to have something to work towards otherwise you are spending an hour a day on the range doing nothing, just hitting balls.

“I’ve been out there and hit some shocking shots but that’s part and parcel of changing your golf swing.”

Poulter finished 11th in the qualifying table for the Ryder Cup last year and would love to secure his place on the European team which will defend the trophy in America next year.

“I just want to play good golf more often and if I can swing it a little better than I have over the last three years then surely I can finish in the top 15 on the Order of Merit every year,” added Poulter, who has finished 24th for the last two years.

“If that is the case you have to win tournaments, and if that is the case then hopefully you will be playing in the Ryder Cup as well.”