Sunday 15 March 2015 21:45, UK
Ian Poulter has admitted to feeling frustrated by an 'annoying' third round that prevented him from challenging the leaders at this week's Valspar Championship.
Poulter, who earlier this month squandered a final day advantage at the Honda Classic to miss out on a first PGA Tour title in three years, was within two of the lead heading in to the weekend at the Innisbrook Resort before losing ground with a four-over third round.
The world No 31 responded with a final-day 69 containing four birdies, including an impressive 40-feet gain at the 14th, but was left disappointed not to finish higher up the leaderboard .
Reflecting on what he described as a "really annoying" weekend, Poulter told Sky Sports 4: "I hit 14 greens in regulation (on Saturday) and didn't hole a putt.
"I holed 200-feet of putts Thursday and Friday and then the hole froze over for me on Saturday. It was really frustrating because I played nicely and had a lot of nice putts inside 20-feet all day, but couldn't seem to get them in.
"It (Saturday) was just a day of frustration and then today I played exceptionally well again. A couple of missed green which was a couple of bogeys and then leaving putts out on the golf course, so another week where I'm going to be left frustrated."
Consistency
Lee Westwood continued his steady start to 2015, with the former world No 1 ending with a two-under 69 to secure a seventh consecutive top-25 PGA Tour finish.
After posting level par in two of his first three rounds, Westwood began the final day with back-to-back birdies before making further gains with an eagle at 11 and rolling in a 10-foot putt at 15.
Although struggling at times with his short game, posting a double-bogey and dropping a further shot to begin his back nine, he was still pleased with a "pretty good" final round.
"I've putted well this week in general and my overall game has been fairly solid without being too spectacular," the world No 28 told Sky Sports. "I think it's a tricky course first time you're here and it takes a bit of learning.
"Today I started well but was really sloppy at the sixth, putting it in the right hand trees. Then I had a good chance at nine from about four-feet, three-putted from about eight-feet at ten and made a lovely eagle at 11. I had some chances coming in but there were some sneaky hard flags on the last few holes."
