Poulter flawless in Japan

Ian Poulter produced a near flawless performance to tie for the lead after the opening round at the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Miyazaki, Japan.

Englishman Poulter, part of a strong international contingent, carded five birdies for a five-under-par 65 in benign conditions at Phoenix Country Club.

He joined Japan’s Muto Toshinori and South Korean Kyung-Tae Kim, one stroke ahead of Australian Chris Campbell and Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

Defending champion Padraig Harrington eagled his first hole, the par-four 10th, but could not take full advantage of his great start – shooting a two-under 68.

“Starting with an eagle, I felt I could have done better,” he said.

“At times I was trying a little too hard, trying to birdie every hole. I feel good about my game. I just need to stay a little more patient than today. It was a little erratic.”

Poulter was delighted not just with his score, but also the quality of his game.

“I’ll take five under with no bogeys around this place – it’s pretty easy to make bogeys around here,” he said.

“I missed two greens in regulation, both of which were 25-foot bunker shots, and I ’up-and-downed’ both of them.”

Poulter was fooled more than once by the pace of the greens.

“They are sneakily quick,” he said.

“That nearly caught me out twice today. I holed some really good six-to-eight feet recovery putts when I rolled the first one past."