Poulter proving a qualified success

The Christmas when Ian Poulter was six years old, his father split a set of clubs between him and his brother, Danny, two years the senior. Natural sibling rivalry did the rest and, though Danny was the first to turn pro, it is Ian who has achieved most.

Last year's rookie of the year after winning the Italian Open, 25-year-old Ian added another victory at the Moroccan Open in April, narrowly missed out on automatic qualification for the Ryder Cup team and yesterday scored an eight-under-par 64 in the opening round of the Volvo Masters.

While Poulter was taking a one-stroke lead over the Australian Peter Lonard, across Spain at Gerona Danny was playing in the second stage of the pre-qualifying for next week's European Tour School. A 68 meant he made the 54-hole cut and still has a chance to make the top-30 to reach the finals.

Danny is a club professional from Luton. Next week Ian will represent England with Warren Bennett in the World Cup in Japan against the likes of Tiger Woods and David Duval, and Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.

It took Ian four attempts to reach the Tour School but he got his card at the first attempt in 1999. Despite not having an illustrious amateur career, like his friend Justin Rose, nor a college education in the States like Paul Casey and Luke Donald, Poulter is one of the new generation of English golfers. A year ago, Lee Westwood was only the Englishman featuring in the world top-100. While the former European No 1 has slipped out of the top 10 to 27th, four others have crept into the lower reaches, including Poulter at 80th.

Out in 33 yesterday, it was his inward half that really impressed. At the short 11th, Poulter hit his two-iron tee shot to five feet. He claimed one of only two birdies of the day at the par-four 13th when he holed from 12 feet, then eagled the par-five 16th with a drive and a seven-iron to 15 feet. For good measure he rolled in a 20-footer on the 17th.

"I am fairly pleased with the year," Poulter said. "I had to give myself a chance of qualifying for the Ryder Cup and I was playing every week and somewhere along the line that was going to hit me. I've had some rest since then, and time to work on my game and it's picked up again."

Paul McGinley was on 66, one ahead of Adam Scott and Padraig Harrington. Harrington's 67 was one better than the 68 of his playing partner Goosen. The South African has already secured No 1 spot on the money list but narrowly trails Harrington on the stroke average list, something the Irishman is in danger of winning after all his runner-up finishes this year.

Darren Clarke, hoping to remain second on the Order of Merit, had a 70. At this stage of the season, thoughts can go astray. "I'm playing and thinking stupid things," sighed Miguel Angel Jimenez after a 70. "Maybe I'm thinking too much, who knows?"

Volvo masters: (Jerez, Sp) Leading first-round scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 64 I Poulter. 65 P Lonard (Aus). 66 P McGinley. 67 A Scott (Aus), P Harrington. 68 B Davis, R Goosen (SA). 69 G Evans, M McNulty (Zim), N O'Hern (Aus), A Hansen (Den), T Levet (Fr), D Howell, L Westwood, T Johnstone (Zim), B Langer (Ger), J M Olazabal (Sp), A Cabrera (Arg), D Robertson, J Rose. 70 M Mouland, C Pettersson (Swe), S Kjeldsen (Den), B Rumford (Aus), S Webster, S Gallacher, R Russell, C Wi (Kor), R Wessels (SA), G Havret (Fr), A Coltart, M Gronberg (Swe), P Price, MA Jimenez (Sp), D Clarke.