Ian Poulter's son with huge chance to qualify for Open after outscoring his dad

Telegraph

01-07-2025

Luke Poulter has put himself in with a huge shout of qualifying for the Open after he outscored his father, Ian, by five shots in the first round of the 36-hole shoot-out here at Royal Cinque Ports on Tuesday morning.
Poulter Jnr, the amateur who missed out by a shot from securing a berth at last month's US Open, fired a five-under 67 at this famous Kent links to stand in a tie for third in the 72-man field, with five set to advance to Royal Portrush in a fortnight's time.
Poulter Snr, 49, is not yet out of it, after recovering from early dropped shots to post a level-par 72 and stand just outside the top 20. Spaniard David Puig set the pace on eight under with American Maxwell Moldovan two behind in second.
However, the former world No 5 will be just as interested – if not even more so – in the progress of his 21-year-old heir, who in recent months has been carving himself quite the name.
After recovering from career-threatening back surgery last year, the student at the University of Florida won his first event on the US College circuit and has recently been picked for the England senior team. He has a different character to Ian – far less flamboyant and with a much calmer temperament – but he obviously has inherited the battling qualities of the Ryder Cup legend. And indeed the confidence.
Not only is Poulter Snr in his rear-view mirror here, but another Europe colossus in Graeme McDowell – in a tie for 13th on two under – and other European Tour winners in Matthew Southgate and Tom Lewis are also playing catch-up with Poulter Jnr.
Of course, the dream for the Poulter family is for both to earn their way to the Dunluce links and so follow in the Open's grand father-and-son tradition, which first featured Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris, as well as Willie Park Snr and Willie Park Jnr in the championship's formative years. The last father-and-son combination to appear at the same major was Craig and Kevin Stadler at the 2014 Masters.
Poulter Snr's LIV team-mate Lee Westwood is playing at Dundonald Links as he also seeks a start in the Open for the first time since 2022, and at the halfway stage, the 52-year-old is in a tie for fifth on two under, three behind fellow Briton Jordan Sundborg.
However, another member of the Majesticks team on the Saudi-funded circuit walked off the course at West Lancashire mid-round. Sam Horsfield was seven-over after nine holes when he effectively disqualified himself by making a sharp exit at the Liverpool links.