IAN POULTER was inspired by a rain-lashed youngster who urged him on every inch of the way as he kept his Open dream alive.
England’s big hope admitted he kept looking at the little kid in a distinctive yellow coat whenever he started to resent foul second-round conditions.
Poulter shrugged off 30mph winds, torrential rain that forced play to be briefly suspended and a huge dip in temperature to register a gutsy 70 and remain three under.
He still faces a monumental task chasing down the hugely impressive Jordan Spieth, who leads the field on six under at halfway.
But Poults was just overjoyed at keeping his Open hopes afloat, despite wet weather that threatened to submerge everything that moved on another brutal day at Birkdale.
And he believes he can feed off the overwhelming crowd support he can expect this weekend.
Poults, 41, said: “It was great to see a load of little kids rooting for me. There was one youngster, no more than five or six, and he followed me the whole way around.
“He was in a little yellow jacket, it was pouring down with rain and he didn’t have an umbrella, but he was out there with his dad.
The Open 2017 - Round two recap
JORDAN SPIETH leads the way on six under par – thanks in part to a “gross” shot that led to an eagle.
The two-time Major champ hit a sliced approach into the par five 15th and converted the putt to reach seven under.
He bogeyed the next and parred in to add a one under 69 to his opening 65 and sit two ahead of fellow American Matt Kuchar.
US Open champion Brooks Koepka is alongside Ian Poulter in a share of third on three under.
And Scot Richie Ramsay is fifth on two under, one ahead of a group of players including Rory McIlroy and England’s Richard Bland.
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“And he kept saying, ‘Come on, Poults. Come on, Poults’.
“I mean, that’s nice. For these fans to stay out in those cold, windy, rainy conditions, it’s special.
“They definitely help you along the way because it’s not easy out there right now.
“Those fans really are great. I’m playing hard for them as well because they’re giving me a lot of energy on the course.
“It feels absolutely marvellous — it really does. The reception up 18, walking from greens to tees, was really pretty special.
“There were huge galleries and they were really pulling for me.
“So it was nice to keep churning out decent scores and to keep myself on the leaderboard.”
Poulter has also been getting plenty of encouragement from closer to home.
His 13-year-old son Luke has hardly left his side during an exhausting run that has seen him play the French, Irish, and Scottish Opens.
Not to mention a 36-hole qualifier to book his place at Birkdale.
Poulter Jnr has been giving his dad advice on club selection and how to deal with adversity.
And it sounds like he really is a chip off the old block.
Poults said: “There was no club selection from him after the first round — he went out to play golf with John Daly’s lad instead.
“So they played eight holes and there was a little match-up. And he managed to be successful in his little match. One of them was very upset when they came back in the house — and unfortunately that was little John.
“But Luke was kind of rubbing it in as he took a 20 pound note from him. So poor little John was not best pleased.
“I must say, I’m not sure where he learnt to rub it in. He must have got that off his mother! But he came home pretty pumped.
“It’s just been great to have him here for three weeks — he really is a joy to be around.
“Luke’s passionate. He’s young. He’s excitable.
“He’s just like any other 13-year-old kid — he’s in the shop buying hats and little bits and pieces of memorabilia. And it’s nice Katie and the rest of the kids decided to come up yesterday, so I’ve got the whole family here again.”
Poulter could almost have been talking about his own mood instead of his eldest son’s.
He is showing the same child-like enthusiasm as he bids to go one better than his runner-up finish at Birkdale nine years ago. And he added: “I’m pulling hard this week on memories of 2008.
“I think the only memories I really have of 2008 was Sunday’s round, where I went low and came charging through the field.
“I wasn’t quite in the position I am now. People were falling away and I found myself moving up through the board. So every moment I’m on the golf course now, I’m thinking a lot about that 69 in really tough conditions.
Round Two Leaderboard
1) Jordan Spieth -6
2) Matt Kuchar -4
T3) Ian Poulter -3
T3) Brooks Koepke -3
5) Richie Ramsay -2
T6) Richard Bland -1
T6) Rory McIlroy -1
T6) Gary Woodland -1
T6) Austin Connelly -1
“It definitely helps when the weather is as bad as it has been these past two days.
“I’m enjoying my golf right now because of what’s happened over the past year, with the foot injury, getting my PGA Tour card back, then having a great run at the Players Championship before finishing runner-up.
“And I’m really looking forward to the weekend now.
“It is going to be a different position, teeing off nice and late, which is great.
“But I’m in a good frame of mind — I feel confident. The large confidence tank that was empty a few months ago is starting to fill up.
“And I like it when it gets full up. I play some of my best golf when I’m pretty confident like this.
“And I’m excited for this weekend — I can’t wait.”
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