Ian Poulter’s best stretch of the season arrived after something most players would hope to avoid: a torn meniscus in his left knee. The setback has not stopped him from playing well, and it has helped shape the form he is bringing into his U.S. Senior Open debut.
Poulter, 50, arrives at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, after a strange but effective run of results on LIV Golf. Before LIV Virginia in early May, he had managed only one top-25 finish in six events. Then, while walking up the clubhouse steps about an hour before his first-round tee time, he felt a pop in his knee.
He wrapped the knee, went out, and finished tied for 18th for his best result of the season. An MRI the following Monday showed a medial tear in his left meniscus, but he kept competing and posted a tie for 16th at LIV Korea and a tie for 27th at LIV Andalucia.
A setback that somehow settled his game
Poulter said the injury has not changed his ball speed, and he believes it may have helped smooth out his swing. “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.”
A new stage at Scioto
This week also marks Poulter’s first appearance in the U.S. Senior Open and his maiden start on the senior circuit. Former LIV player Henrik Stenson is also debuting, and Poulter said he has spent more time talking than hitting balls since arriving at Scioto.
He has played 16 regular U.S. Opens among 72 major starts, but the championship has remained the only one of the four majors where he has not finished in the top 10. That history gives this debut extra weight, even if the course plays a little shorter than the U.S. Opens he is used to.
Poulter said the shorter setup could help because he has never been the longest hitter, and he is hopeful the week gives him a chance to contend. “Yeah, to hold a trophy would be pretty meaningful,” he said.
What to watch during the debut
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | U.S. Senior Open debut |
| Venue | Scioto Country Club, Columbus, Ohio |
| Injury | Torn medial meniscus in left knee |
| Recent LIV finishes | T-18 at LIV Virginia, T-16 at LIV Korea, T-27 at LIV Andalucia |
For Poulter, the week is about more than simply making a senior debut. It is also a chance to see whether the unusual stretch that followed his knee injury can carry over to a new stage and, perhaps, into a trophy run.
