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The Loop

Poulter gets his wakeup call

February 26, 2010

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Ian Poulter, perhaps boosted by a desire to keep pace with his roommate, did not play tired on Friday, shooting an eight-under par 63 to vault into contention at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Poulter considered withdrawing in the wake of his victory at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, and following a lethargic opening round of one-over par 72 wondered whether he had erred in not following his instinct and returning home to Florida.

"May have been a mistake to play this week, the tank was empty, trying to hang in there and see if we can make some birdies, never give up," Poulter wrote on Twitter Thursday night.

He followed his own advice, making eight birdies and no bogeys to move within two strokes of the lead, held jointly by Camilo Villegas and Pat Perez. Poulter is staying with Perez at his Scottsdale home this week.

-- John Strege