You've got to cheer for Ian Poulter at Houston Open, don't you

PGA Tour Houston Open leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2018/houston-open/leaderboard.html

As play begins today there are the two leaders at -14, four more at -12, six more at -11 on another hot mostly sunny day at the Houston Open, so as I said yesterday, with no bad weather to thin them out, it should be a cavalry charge to the winners circle late this afternoon.

Of them all, you have to be rooting for 42 year old Ian Poulter, who went through the "you're in... no sorry you're out" of the Masters scenario just before he lost his semi final match last weekend.

Crushed no doubt, he went off, licked his wounds and decided to play here and promptly opened with a +1 73, well down the field. With bags packed he decided just to have a go as they say in England, and with his Medinah putter in the mood he promptly shot -8 64, to move up 100 spots to get in contention, then added a sparkling -7 65 yesterday for a share of the lead with Beau Hossler at -14.

A win gets him into the Masters where he has never missed the cut. It would be deserving for one of the game's colourful characters, and one of Europe's Ryder Cup stalwarts.

It won't come easy, 3 rounds in a row in the mid 60's is improbable. and with the likes of Henrik Stenson at -11 and Jordan Spieth at -10 among the chasing pack, someone is going to go low.

I'm hoping its Poulter, he is a very streaky player, and is in the midst of one right now..

By the way Ben Silverman shot 74 and missed the second cut, so will get paid but will not play today.

Bryan Angus