Ian Poulter’s extraordinary par save at the Alstom Open de France has been voted by fans of My European Tour as Shot of the Month for July.
The flamboyant Englishman had looked in trouble at Le Golf National’s tight first hole after pulling his tee shot into the water hazard that looms large down the left hand side but, having taken a penalty drop and pitched out to around 100 yards, Poulter took dead aim with an approach that pitched eight feet past the hole before spinning back into the cup for an outrageous four.
Cue celebrations from the galleries that watched on in delight, however, Poulter seemed more disappointed to have put himself in such a position in the first place, instead preferring to exhibit those steely, focussed eyes seen so frequently at Ryder Cups past.
A miraculous par, the superb wedge was vital in keeping Poulter on track during a blustery second round on a course that was proving a particularly stern test due to its firm greens, tight fairways and very penal rough, but it was one that the 36 year old handled with aplomb en route to a 69.
This was the first in a trio of three under par rounds for Poulter just outside of Paris, eventually finishing in a tie for fourth at five under par, some three shots shy of Marcel Siem’s winning mark.
Poulter’s winning effort secured a staggering 57 per cent of the public vote, with Ernie Els’ approach to the last that set up Open Championship glory at Royal Lytham & St Annes coming in second with 15 per cent, while charismatic Frenchman Thomas Levet was third with seven per cent of the vote thanks to a monstrous putt during the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.
July’s winner will now go into the season ending Shot of the Year competition alongside the previous six monthly victors, following on from Sergio Garcia (January), Martin Kaymer (February), Paul Casey (March), Louis Oosthuizen (April), Luke Donald (May) and Padraig Harrington (June).
One lucky My European Tour fan who picked Poulter’s top shot will also receive an Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open prize pack.
Check out the August Shot of the Month competition on My European Tour, coming soon.
