KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — Golf can provide the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Just ask Ian Poulter.
With conditions favorable for scoring, it figured someone would get off to a fast start during the final round of the PGA Championship yesterday. Poulter was more than happy to be that someone.
The Englishman began his final round by making five consecutive birdies, vaulting from 1-under to 6-under and one shot off the lead as third-round leader Rory McIIroy was about to tee off.
Poulter’s electric streak included birdie conversions of 20 feet at the par-4 fourth and the par-3 fifth. Though he missed a 22-footer for birdie at the par-4 sixth, he made his sixth birdie in seven holes at the par-5 seventh.
“It was a dream start,” Poulter said, adding, “Making six of the first seven, I knew I had a chance to be fairly close and I was fairly close. I just couldn’t get any closer.”
It looked like it was game on. But Poulter suffered his first bogey when he couldn’t get up and down at the par-3 eighth. But he got that stroke back with a birdie at the par-4 11th. He followed that with his eighth birdie of the day — on the par-4 12 — putting him at 8-under and two strokes behind McIlroy, who made the turn at 10-under.
But what looked to be a brilliant performance turned ugly. Poulter suffered his second bogey at the par-4 13th when his approach landed wide left of the green. Though he made a terrific chip out of thick grass, the ball stopped about 15 feet from the cup. Poulter missed the putt and dropped to 7-under.
It was just the start of a collapse. His chance to win his first major in 40 appearances was lost for good when he bogeyed the next two holes. He finished with a 3-under 69, and tied for third at 4-under, nine shots behind McIlroy.
“I needed not to make any mistakes and unfortunately I made three which was a real shame, really,” Poulter said.