Welcome back: Poulter shrugs off nine year absence to contend at Dubai Desert Classic

Ian Poulter shot his lowest ever round at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday. Nezar Belout / AFP

Ian Poulter made a welcome return to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday, shooting a five-under par 67 in his first round to trail leader Sergio Garcia by two shots.

A lengthy absence

The popular Englishman is playing the final leg of the Desert Swing for the first time in nine years, but that did not hinder him as he carded his joint-lowest round at Emirates Golf Club. Beginning on the back nine, Poulter birdied five of that stretch, with a bogey on the 12th, while he parred the entire front side before finishing with a birdie. At five-under, he is in a four-way tie for fourth.

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On his Desert Classic comeback

“I’m happy with that round,” Poulter said. “It’s been nine years since I’ve been here. Played 27 holes in practice, 18 holes in the Pro-Am and then obviously nine holes the day before. To play well around this golf course, you’ve got to score well on the par-5s. I did that on the back nine today. Five-under par is a good position on a course that I guess I don’t really know all that well: in the last 10 years, I’ve played once.”

On posting his joint-best round on the Majlis

“I didn’t know that, so thanks for letting me know,” said Poulter, who finished tied-39 last time out, at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship two weeks ago. “I feel brilliant now, knowing that: my lowest round of golf at the Emirates. There was never any reason why I shouldn’t play this golf course well. While I was here last week practicing, I didn’t play the course, but I played other courses, which was nice. It was nice to get out, relax, practice.”

On finding his groove after a tough 2016

“Yeah, I feel ready to go,” he said. “I’m not sure I’m hitting my stride just yet. As well as I played today, I think there was still a couple of mis-hits in there. And the perfectionist I am, I want to eradicate those, and when I do, we’ll start to shoot some real low rounds of golf. But I’m happy, five-under par is a good score. As I say, it’s been nine years since I’ve been here and I’ve got to familiarise myself with it again. I’ve done that pretty well again today.”

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