ABERDEEN STANDARD INVESTMENTS SCOTTISH OPEN

July 9, 2021

Ian Poulter

The Renaissance Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Reflections of today?

IAN POULTER: Reflections of today, I played pretty good. Out of the gate quick, two birdies, super aggressive on the last hole, the 18th hole, my ninth, and leaked it a little right. Penalised in those green-side bunkers. Didn't hit a brilliant burning shot, and so missed that putt.

Frustrating to have one bogey in the first two days from playing a lot of good golf, steady, piecing my way around this course. I liked it last year. I got myself in the frame last year. Had a little shower on Saturday, and then I had a couple of birdies around that front side.

So I like the course. I like links golf. It's kind of home from home.

Q. Did you have to use the grey matter a bit more seeing shots, different options of playing shots?

IAN POULTER: I have to use every bit of grey matter I have. There's not a lot in there. Yeah, I get to use most of it.

Q. Tell us about last year, because you were in the mix, weren't you, on Saturday. I saw you on the tee and the starter said it might get wet or windy. What happened in the next four hours was quite extraordinary, wasn't it?

IAN POULTER: Yeah, it dropped at least two inches of rain in a period of five hours. The golf course held strong for a very good time. The last six holes, I would say the golf course kind of let go.

And it was one of those awkward moments where the referees wanted to get play finished, and we as players were at that point so wet, anyway, I think we probably chose to get finished. If we had stamped our feet a little harder, they might have had to pull us in but I think at that point it was just keep going and try and stay out of the puddles.

Q. You came and spoke to us and said we get paid a lot of money but sometimes we have to go through these things. Tell us about the preparation and what you're learning about your game going into next week?

IAN POULTER: I think my game is in good shape. I'm hitting a lot of decent shots, giving myself plenty of chances. I like coming to play links golf and to have a little warmer for probably a sterner test next week, thicker rough, fairways lined with bunkers, bouncier fairways. It's good to get a bit of early prep in and kind of just feel your way into next week.

Q. As a professional golfer, proud; you've achieved a lot, and you don't turn up unless you think you can win it, do you?

IAN POULTER: I'm 45 and I feel I'm in good shape. I feel my game's pretty strong. Mentally I feel fresh already, which is probably the most important thing, albeit the body is getting older and my son's hitting it past me. I just have to keep telling myself that I'm young at heart and young in the head and let's just keep going.