Poulter's Perfect Pitch

Ian Poulter has been awarded The European Tour Shot of the Month for February to complete a memorable month for the Englishman. The World Number Eight can now place his Shot of the Month trophy alongside the one he received for being named The European Tour Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month for February, awarded after his superb display at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. The shot which virtually assured Poulter of victory over his compatriot Paul Casey and with it his first WGC title came at the 15th hole at Ritz-Carlton GC in Arizona, America. Poulter was two holes up with four left to play of the 36-hole final, but missed the green with his approach shot to the 15th to leave himself with a testing chip. Casey must have sensed an opportunity to half the deficit, but instead found himself three down with three left to play after Poulter produced a masterful recovery to win the hole, before wrapping up his 4&2 victory at the next hole. The win saw Poulter rise to a career-high of fifth on the Official World Golf Ranking, and also saw him climb temporarily to the top of The Race to Dubai. Runner-up was Colombian Camilo Villegas’ second shot to the ninth hole on the fifth day of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, with third place going to England’s Luke Donald for his huge putt on the 18th green on day three of the same event. Poulter follows Germany’s Martin Kaymer (January) in winning the Shot of the Month, which is awarded to the Tour Member for the shot judged to be the best played each month on The European Tour International Schedule. At the end of the season, the winning shot from each month will be nominated for The European Tour Shot of the Year Award.