Poulter banks on stellar short game to end PGA Tour drought

By Andrew Both

IRVING, Texas (Reuters) - Ian Poulter's stellar short game has been largely responsible for his impressive record on the PGA Tour this year.

Players and caddies alike have been raving about the quality of Poulter's chipping and a quick glance at the tour's official statistics reveals why.

The Englishman is ranked first in scrambling this year, saving par (or better) 73 percent of the time after missing a green in regulation.

Only one other player, Steve Stricker, is doing better than 70 percent, while Tiger Woods, who is perhaps regarded as the best short game player in the world, is ranked fifth at 68 percent.

"I was working pretty hard in the off-season on my short game and that's an area where I get aggressive when I feel I'm playing well," Poulter told reporters on Wednesday on the eve of HP Byron Nelson Championship.

"I do miss quite a few greens, but if my short game is in good shape, I don't mind missing greens because I know I'm going to get up-and-down or potentially chip in. That's one area which has been very good this year."

SHARP GAME

Poulter's sharp short game has helped him finish in the top-20 in six of seven starts on the PGA Tour this year, including a runner-up finish behind fellow European Henrik Stenson at the Players Championship two weeks ago.