• US PGA Championship, Round Two

Poulter ready to challenge Tiger

ESPN staff
August 11, 2012
Ian Poulter is one shot off the pace at the USA PGA © Getty Images
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Ian Poulter is relishing the physical test of a windy Kiawah Island as he is poised to challenge Tiger Woods at the US PGA Championship.

Poulter sits one stroke behind leaders Woods, Vijay Singh and Carl Pettersson at the halfway stage, with Woods poised to regain the world No. 1 spot if he can end his major drought this weekend.

As big names toiled in the blustery conditions on Friday, Poulter boosted his hopes of qualifying for next month's Ryder Cup as he moved up the leaderboard with a second round 71. While Poulter admits the wind makes for testing conditions, he is enjoying the challenge of the Ocean Course.

"Six-hour rounds in any major are obviously going to wear you out," Poulter said. "You're fighting the course and the wind for so long it's very tiring. There's nothing you can do about it - I would like to find anybody that can get around this golf course in under six hours in this wind.

"I mean, it is brutal. Absolutely brutal. But it's enjoyable when you're at the top end of the leaderboard as opposed to being down the bottom end or even fighting to make the cut. When you're in contention then it's fun in a sick way, I guess.

"The golf shots this golf course asks you to hit time and time and time and time again, you really have to hit phenomenal golf shots. The room for error is so tiny."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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