Poulter gains wire to wire victory

Britain's Ian Poulter led the Wales Open from start to finish to win his fourth European Tour title on Sunday by three strokes.

Poulter's closing two-under-par 70 for an 18-under-par 270 aggregate was three shots better than Australian Jarrod Moseley, South African Darren Fichardt and Poulter's fellow-Englishman Jonathan Lomas.

The win for the biggest cheque of his career continues his record of winning a tournament every year since he joined the European Tour in 2000 when he was rookie of the year.

The home challenge from Phillip Price, his playing partner, failed to materialise after a promising start.

The Welshman, starting two shots behind Poulter in second place and aiming to be the first Welsh winner of the event, drew to within a stroke by the fifth.

But he then lost his way to card 74 which left him in only a tie for seventh place, six strokes in arrears.

Moseley, who had a course record 63 on Saturday, looked the most likely to upset Poulter's bid for the $411,100 first prize.

The Australian closed to within a stroke of Poulter, who had established a three-stroke advantage with a 50ft eagle putt on the 11th, the only eagle there of the week.

But he then dropped shots on 15 and 16, in similar fashion to the previous day when he allowed a six-stroke lead to slip.

However, a bogey on the last by Moseley not only took off the pressure from Poulter but left the Australian having to settle for a share of second place.

For Poulter it was the end of a frustrating and worrying two months where he had missed five cuts in six starts to plummet to 135th on the money list while a swing change under the guidance of respected tutor David Leadbetter kicked in.

But now the 27-year-old is back where he wants to be -- considered one of Britain's brightest prospects for major honours.

A Ryder Cup place eluded him by just one place in 2001, the 10th and final qualifying spot going, ironically, to Price.

"I'm back," said a delighted Poulter. "I've missed a few cuts but these things take time. It's all been worthwhile and it definitely paid off today.

"I saw what was happening to Jarrod up ahead and I knew what I had to do."

Poulter was watched by his friend Justin Rose, one of the players he feels he can equal in terms of potential.

"Justin wasn't playing this week but he has a company day here tomorrow so he took the trouble to drive here early and encourage me at the end.

"He's a great friend and that's just what I'll be doing when he's in the same position."

The pair enjoyed a battle to the wire in last year's British Masters, which is contested next week, before Rose came out top.

Moseley was left regretting hitting a tree at the par-five last with his second shot that denied him the chance of his second title.

"My ball caught the last branch and flung it over behind pine trees," said the Perth man. "The game dishes these things out now and again."

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