US Masters / Ralph Ellis / 06 April 2011 /

Ian Poulter has dared to say what everybody is thinking about Tiger's Masters chances. But what about the controversial Brit's own prospects? Ralph Ellis believes the lively trousered one could be in contention...

Ian Poulter is a bit of a Marmite Man - you either love him or hate him. Personally, I'm in the former camp. I think the story of a kid from Stevenage who started out selling Mars Bars at Chesfield Downs Golf Club is inspiring. And if he wants to enjoy every second of life on tour, with his wacky fashion line, then good luck to him.

I always wonder if that background breeds a bit of snobbishness from the golf establishment. He's certainly getting hammered this morning for offering an honest opinion about whether Tiger Woods can finish in the top five of this year's Masters.

Poulter said no, and with reasonable logic: "The shots he was hitting at Doral were so inconsistent and you can't do that on this course." But needless to say the verdict caused Tiger to have a bite back and everybody else to dig out the Englishman for giving Woods an extra bit of motivation.

As Poulter wrote on his Twitter late last night: "Note to self, when asked about Tiger always b******t and say what they want to hear, or you will be ridiculed. Noted not answering any more."
Ironically though he was only saying what everybody else has been thinking. For the first time - it seems almost since betting was invented - Woods will not be favourite at the start of a Major. He's [12.5] ahead of tomorrow's first round when he'll tee off in a fascinating threeball alongside US Open Champion Graeme McDowell and Australia's Robert Allenby. And those who are criticising Poulter for his views on Tiger's chances can put their money where their mouths are at [4.0] for a top five finish. The fallen former world number one is not even odds on to end up in the top ten - he's [2.3] for that.

Mind you, Poulter's odds are massive. He's quoted at 50-1 by some high street bookmakers to win the Green Jacket and has told his 1.14 million Twitter followers to get on it. Needless to say you can do better by backing him on Betfair where he's currently [60.0] for his first Major win!

I think that's worth a flutter. I hope the fuss about his Tiger comments doesn't get him too wound up, because in every other respect you can recognise the relaxed and excited air of a potential winner. He's even getting his mum to caddie for him in the Par Three today!

I walked the course with Poulter at the Ryder Cup last October and saw how he came alive in front of a big crowd on a big occasion, and Augusta is perfect to bring out the same reaction. It's [12.5] he'll finish in the top five and I'm on it. Whether Tiger is in there too, I really don't care!

Five things you might not know about Robert Allenby

1. Born in Melbourne in July 1971, he was the youngest of four children. Dad Don was a former club golf professional from Leeds who had emigrated together with Robert's mum Sylvia
2. He was spotted on the driving range of the local Box Hill course aged 13 by the club's pro Steve Bann, who took him under his wing and coached him for the next 18 years.
3. He finished top of the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit in his first season as a pro in 1992, and again in 1994, before joining the European Tour
4. He and manager Andrew Ramsay were in a serious car accident in Spain during 1996. Allenby was thrown through the windscreen, and sustained a broken sternum as well as massive cuts to his face. He returned to tee off and then withdraw in the last event of the tour thus guaranteeing himself around £100,000 in prize money which he promptly donated to children's cancer charities.
5. Away from golf he loves deep water fishing, and organises two-day trips for wealthy tourists on his 61 foot Viking Sportfish boat - called "C'mon Aussie" - from his Florida home

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