Ian Poulter

Factfile

Born

1976

Club

Woburn

Turned Pro

1994

World Ranking

Career Victories

Team Victories

Ryder Cup (2004), Seve Trophy (2003 & 2005)

Ian Poulter finished runner-up in last year’s Open at Royal Birkdale and emerged the outstanding European Ryder Cup player at Valhalla, winning four of his five matches. The 33-year-old plies his trade on both sides of the Atlantic, but there is no doubt where his favourite courses can be found and Woburn is high on his list.

“It’s my home club,” he says. “All three courses are great but the Duchess is that bit more testing.”

The Duchess is the shortest of the three Woburn courses yet it is arguably the least forgiving.

“For a good golfer it’s still a challenge,” adds Poulter. “The second hole is a real test – a long par-three that’s incredibly tight and has a two-tier green.”

One of Poulter’s most memorable triumphs – and his biggest success to date – came in the 2004 Volvo Masters at Valderrama which, for the past decade, has been considered the No 1 course in Europe.

“I’ve obviously got a soft spot for Valderrama since my win there,” says Poulter. “But apart from that it is a gorgeous course, throws up challenges and has got awesome history.”

It is back to the UK for the third of Poulter’s favourite three courses, to perhaps the most famous place in golf, The Old Course at St Andrews.

“What can you say? It just gives you the tingles to play at St Andrews. Every golfer wants to play there. The variety is awesome and it suits me because I tend to perform well on links courses.”

Poulter has yet to win there but don’t bet against that changing in the next year or two.