When most tour pros enjoy a run of good golf, it can be attributed to an equipment change, a new swing thought, maybe even a mental breakthrough.
For Ian Poulter, all it took was a torn meniscus.
The 50-year-old Poulter, who is making his U.S. Senior Open debut this week at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, had notched just one top-25 finish in six LIV Golf events prior to LIV Virginia in early May. It was there at Trump National outside of Washington, D.C., that Poulter felt a pop in his left knee while walking up the clubhouse steps about an hour before his first-round tee time.
Poulter wrapped the knee, then went out and recorded his best finish of the season, a T-18. An MRI that following Monday revealed a medial tear in his left meniscus. Yet, Poulter played on, tying for 16th three weeks later at LIV Korea and then posting a T-27 the next week at LIV Andalucia.
“Pretty much since then I’ve played some really nice golf, which makes no sense at all,” Poulter said. “Whether that’s made me swing it a little smoother, I don’t really know. The ball speed hasn’t changed, and I’ve kind of managed that situation with that knee. It’s fine to play on. I can walk comfortably. But my game has trended pretty well this season. I’ve probably played the best I have than any of the previous seasons, even though I’m now 50.”
Poulter’s first U.S. Senior Open also marks his maiden appearance on the senior circuit. Poulter, who is joined by former LIV player Henrik Stenson in debuting this week, said he’s had more conversations than he’s hit golf balls since he’s arrived at Scioto.
Though Poulter has competed in 16 regular U.S. Opens among his 72 career major starts, it’s the only major of the four where he hasn’t recorded a top-10 finish.
“This one, being a completely new one, the golf course is a little shorter than the U.S. Opens that I’ve played in the past, so hopefully that’s a helping hand because I’ve never hit it the longest,” Poulter said. “No, it will be amazing to obviously play this week, play well, hopefully have a chance.
“Yeah, to hold a trophy would be pretty meaningful.”
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