Poulter facing Euro tour fine

Ian Poulter looks set to be the second Ryder Cup star in the space of a week to be fined by the European Tour for bad behaviour.

Just two days after Sergio Garcia was fined for kicking an advertising board during the Omega European Masters, Poulter took a similarly violent dislike to a bunker in the first round of the Linde German Masters.

After failing to escape from the trap with his third shot on the par five 13th - his third hole – at Gut Larchenhof this morning, Poulter twice angrily slammed his club into the ground behind him.

The incident took place in full view of a rules official who described it as a “disgrace” and said he would definitely be reporting Poulter to tournament director Mikael Eriksson.

The 29-year-old at least managed to save par by chipping to within inches of the hole with his fourth shot, but by then the damage had already been done in every sense.

A double-bogey six on his opening hole was no doubt the source of Poulter’s anger, a drive into the rough compounded by three putts from 25 feet.

Another bogey on the 13th left him three over par before a first birdie of the day on the 14th improved his outlook slightly.

Out in two over, the flamboyant Englishman then birdied the second and fifth to get back to level par, five shots behind leaders Barry Lane and Bradley Dredge.

Veteran Englishman Lane was five under with two to play while Wales’ Dredge had five holes left.

Among a large group on four under was England’s Paul Casey, third in Switzerland on Sunday to confirm his recovery from the worst slump of his career, Sweden’s Niclas Fasth – twice a winner this season – and Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal.

Olazabal, who will finalise his European team for the Seve Trophy after the tournament, went to the turn in 33 and the birdied the first.

Two players battling to make Colin Montgomerie’s Britain and Ireland side to defend the trophy in a fortnight’s time were also going well.

Nick Dougherty, currently in the last qualifying place on the Order of Merit, was three under par, one ahead of nearest rival Kenneth Ferrie who is just £5,000 (€7,400) behind the former Walker Cup star.

Montgomerie himself, seeking a win to go top of the money list, was level with four to play after three birdies and three bogeys.