IAN POULTER WINS THE AUSTRALIAN MASTERS BY THREE SHOTS

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE
Report by Angus Morgan at Victoria Golf Club, SportalFlashy Englishman Ian Poulter has finished the year on a high by staring down playing partner Geoff Ogilvy to add the 2011 JBWere Australian Masters gold jacket to his highly distinctive and very extensive wardrobe.
Poulter fired a final-round 67 in blustery conditions at Victoria Golf Club to finish at 15-under-par 269, three shots clear of Marcus Fraser who jumped from the pack with a 64, the round of the day.
Ogilvy returned a two-over 73 to sit alone in third place at 273.
The only player apart from Poulter and Fraser to shoot four sub-par rounds, the ageless Peter Senior signed off with a 70 to share fourth place at 277 with Adam Crawford (66), while world No.1 Luke Donald eased to the line with a 72 to sit alongside 2011 Australian Open and PGA champion Greg Chalmers at 280.
While 'a little disappointed' with his finish, Donald said he was proud of his achievements in 'an amazing year'.
Immediately after putting out for par at the 18th, a delighted Poulter shared his delight with his 1.2 million followers on Twitter: "winner winner chicken dinner ... what a way to finish the year."
He told his media conference that he regards the win, which has the added benefit of elevating his ranking from No.28 into the world top-20, as 'very special'.
"For me it was a pure ball-striking round of golf," Poulter said.
"It (my concentration) was flawless the whole day. I was happy how I approached every shot.
"I hit my targets, it was fairly methodical, but for me it was a nice round of golf."
Sunday's final pairing was always going to provide the winner and Poulter signalled his intent with an eagle at the short 233-metre par-four opening hole that wiped out Ogilvy's two-shot overnight lead in one devastating hit.
Poulter was forced to scramble to save his par at the second and third and appeared unfazed by the prospect of sinking a five-metre par saver at the fifth to stay viable.
He seized the lead outright with a five-metre birdie putt at the seventh and extended it with another birdie at the 559-metre par-five ninth where he knocked his approach to within inches of the hole.
Thereafter it was just a matter of playing a solid 'commercial' back nine and the title was Poulter's.
Ogilvy had been the steadier of the two on the front nine, but failed to take his chances.
Putts that didn't touch the sides during Saturday's course record-equalling 63 simply refused to drop.
Ogilvy churned out 12 successive pars before dropping shots at 13 and 15 which finished him off once and for all.
"Ian played very well and I didn't," was Ogilvy's pithy summation of the final round.
"I couldn't make a birdie all day. I am disappointed, but what are you going to do?"
Pipped by Chalmers in a playoff for the Australia PGA championship at Coolum a fortnight back, Fraser was delighted with his second successive second placing.
"Anything is possible, but you have got Ian Poulter and Geoff Ogilvy up there in front of you and those guys are too good to mess it up," Fraser said.
"I hit a lot of good shots this week and I am very happy with how I played.
"It would have been nice to hole a few extra putts at the start of the week, but I got my fair share today."
Rain threatened for much of the day but the storm clouds that swept across the city tended to bypass the course, situated in Melbourne's sandbelt.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71) Players from Australia unless stated
269 Ian Poulter (England) 65 68 69 67
272 Marcus Fraser 70 69 69 64
273 Geoff Ogilvy 71 66 63 73
277 Adam Crawford 74 688 69 66, Peter Senior 69 70 68 70
278 Ashley Hall 66 70 68 74

Selected total
280 Luke Donald (England) 69 70 68 72 (T12)

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