Can Ian Poulter Finally Enter the PGA Tour Winner's Circle?

At the start of the 2009 season, there were three players that immediately came to mind when thinking of the best players to have never won a PGA Tour event—Paul Casey, Tim Clark, and Ian Poulter.

Casey broke his winless streak with a victory at the Shell Houston Open about three weeks ago.

With almost $12.5 million in career earnings without a win on the PGA Tour, Clark would have to be considered the best player on Tour to have never won a tournament.  But, Poulter is a close second.

Over the past five years, Poulter has finished second twice, had 13 top-10 finishes, finished within the top 25 eight times in major championships and has earned just under $6 million. 

Thus far in 2009, Poulter has finished within the top 25 at three out of the four PGA Tour events he has entered, including a tie for 20th at the Masters less than two weeks ago.

Poulter is probably better known for his outlandish outfits and the comments he made a couple of years ago, which by most accounts seem to have been taken grossly out of context, about him being talented enough to consistently compete with Tiger Woods.

But, at this week’s Zurich Classic which is being played just outside of New Orleans, Poulter has an excellent chance to make headlines for something other than wearing a pair of bright pink pants or shocking comments about the world’s No. 1 player, as misconstrued as they may have been.

After and indifferent 71 in his first round of the Zurich Classic, Poulter came back with a blistering 66 on Friday, which included six birdies and no bogeys on his card.

After 36 holes, Poulter sits just three strokes behind tournament leader Jerry Kelly.

Could this be the week that Poulter joins close friend and fellow countryman Paul Casey in the PGA Tour’s winner's circle?

With seven European Tour victories, Poulter definitely knows how to win.  It has just yet to happen for him on the PGA Tour.

There is one statistic that is certainly in Poulter’s favor this week—six out of the last seven winners of the Zurich Classic have been first-time winners on the PGA Tour.