Price right on Poulter's trail

Ryder Cup rivals Phil Price and Ian Poulter were today resuming battle for the £250,000 (€349,000) first prize in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor.

Price just pipped Poulter to the last automatic qualifying place for the European team which memorably defeated the United States at The Belfry last September.

The Welshman of course went on to defeat then world number two Phil Mickelson in the singles on a dramatic final day, while Poulter had waited in vain for one of the team to pull out injured so he could take their place.

Price, who lives in nearby Newport, has had incessant reminders of his memorable performance this week – his win over Mickelson being constantly replayed on the tournament television service.

And the breathless experience of that day, akin to ‘always walking up a hill,’ has provided the 36-year-old with the ideal preparation for the steeply undulating Wentwood Hills course which will host, after major changes, the Ryder Cup in 2010.

“I’d like to think that sometime down the road it is going to be an asset to me,” said Price, who carded six birdies in a second-round 66 to lie 10 under par, two shots behind Poulter.

“When I am feeling particularly nervous again I will know I can play properly when I am feeling like that. Hopefully that point will come very shortly this season when I will feel nervous and I will be able to pull through.

“I could hardly breathe. I think with the crowd and everything it is difficult to breathe properly with all the adrenaline going through you.

“It is not easy to settle down. The crowd are roaring all the time too so that keeps on doing it to you. It is like walking up a hill all the time. I was told that everybody feels the same so it was just a battle of trying to play the best golf on the day.”

Poulter, still battling the effects of a bout of tonsillitis, felt he could have been even further ahead if he had enjoyed some more luck on the greens.

“I could have gone really berserk,” said the 27-year-old from Milton Keynes, who added a 67 to his course record-equalling 65 on Thursday.

“I missed half a dozen good chances but I’m very happy with the score and if I can play the way I can the last two days I feel pretty comfortable.

“I felt a bit more myself. I had a bit more energy and had a full night’s sleep which was the main improvement. The tablets are obviously kicking in.

“It was the same game plan of trying to not hit the ball too hard and it will be the same for the weekend.”

One player who did not even make the weekend was pre-tournament favourite Colin Montgomerie, who carded a second-round 71 to finish level par.

Montgomerie narrowly missed a 50-foot eagle putt on the last and drove home to Surrey to wait and see if that would be good enough to qualify for the last two rounds.

“I don’t know how that on the last missed, or how a few of them missed,” said the Scot, who joked “It’s getting easier all the time” on Wednesday when told defending champion Paul Lawrie had joined

Volvo PGA champion Ignacio Garrido, runner-up Trevor Immelman and Paul Casey in pulling out of the event.

“I played very well from tee to green but did not hole anything so went home last night to get a heavier putter. It was working a little better but the putts still didn’t go in.

“I’m striking the ball well enough. I hit 16 greens yesterday and the same again today. Nothing wrong with that at all, I haven’t holed the putts unfortunately. The guys who are nine and 10 under have.”