Poulter's putting ''unbearable''

2007-09-08

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By Andrew Both PA SportsTicker Golf Writer

LEMONT, Illinois (Ticker) - Ian Poulter described his putting as"unbearable" after yet another disappointing performance on thegreens, this time in the third round at the BMW Championship onSaturday.

Poulter, who needs to finish first or second to qualify for nextweek''s Tour Championship, just about cooked his goose withanother mediocre performance on the greens, making just twobirdies all day at Cog Hill.

"I''m putting well, but they''re just not going in," he said aftera bogey-free 69 for a 4-under-par 209 total at Cog Hill. "I''mplaying well enough to be on top of the board right now. It''smore than frustrating, it''s unbearable, because I need to finishfirst or second to be in next week and instead I''m going to beflying home Sunday night.

"If I''d taken a few opportunities I could have had a gotomorrow. I can honestly say I had 12 seriously good birdieputts today. If I''d made 40 percent of them, I''d have a chancetomorrow. You try to stay positive, but how I''m staying sane, Idon''t know."

It''s not unusual for players to exaggerate the number of puttsthey missed, but in Poulter''s case, he was right on. He missedonly one fairway in an impressive driving display, but theofficial statistics reveal he squandered seven birdieopportunities from inside 12 feet, enough to drive anyprofessional batty.

With the Tour Championship seemingly out of the question,Poulter said he might instead play the European Tour''sMercedes-Benz Championship in Germany.

Then again, perhaps he would be better off getting away from thegame for a week or two to clear his mind.

"It''s a funny game," he said, calming down a little. "You havethese peaks and troughs. If you look at the positives, I''mplaying great.

"Last year, I was going through the same frustration, and then Iwent out in Madrid, the putts started dropping, and I won byfive."