About 25+ years ago, I worked part time in a pro shop that @IanJamesPoulter was assistant of. We’d occasionally play a few holes and I’d normally get a shot a hole. And lose comfortably.

So here’s a thread... my 2015 Augusta round v Ian’s today. Shot a hole. Matchplay....

After finding the bunker off the tee I manage to scramble a two-putt net par and Ian taps in from a foot for the half.

Match all square

I’m under pressure all the way down the par 5 and despite finding the green in regulation I three putt to open the door. The Match Play specialist doesn’t need asking twice and holes out for birdie to win the hole.

Poulter 1 up

We both miss the green with wedges at the 3rd, Poulter is short and I’m long. Neither make particularly good efforts of our chips and we both two putt. My net par levels the match.

Match all square

I’m disastrously long on 4 and Poulter’s reply finds the heart of the green. Brilliant caddie advice leads me to chip somehow to 10ft below the hole. Poulter misses the birdie and my putt for the win finds the centre of the cup.

German 1up

Playing in first, my five iron misses the green to the right at 5. Poulter plays a trademark laser iron shot to 5 ft and I struggle to make a net 4 to put any sort of pressure on. Poulter holes to square the ding dong contest.

Match all square.

We’re both long at the par 3 6th. I chip to about 8ft and Ian elects to use the putter with marginally better results. I miss, but Ian can’t make the three. Uncharitably, my putt isn’t conceded but I manage to hole a knee-knocker for a 4 (net par) to regain the lead.

German 1up

Neither of us cover ourselves in glory at 7. I miss the fairway way left and Poulter right. His recovery is better than mine and I take 4 in total to the dance floor. A three putt treble means Ian’s bogey is still enough to win the hole.

Match All Square

My Member’s tees advantage is taking its toll on Poults now. A drive, hybrid and chip from the back of 8 leaves me with tap in net eagle. We walk to the 9th tee.

German 1up

Perhaps it’s the extra pressure of two old adversaries going head to head but it’s a scrappy match and we both miss 9 green. I definitely take advantage of a softer landing spot for the chip and hole a four line footer to close the front 9 with a net birdie and a win.

German 2up

At 10, my approach from the middle of the fairway finds sand, Poulter’s the green. I splash out to 20 ft and Poulter two puts for par. I miss and sensing I might be feeling the pressure, Ian again doesn’t concede my putt to half. But I make and it’s on to Amen corner.

German 2up

Greens in regulation isn’t the strongest stat of the contest and Poulter is uncharacteristically misfiring around the greens too. However, at 11, my short game is even worse and we share a scrappy half as my 6 net 5 matches his 5th bogey in 6 holes.

German remains 2up

The iconic 12th... Poults follows me long left off the tee. In fairness mine was less to do with a rock hard bounce and more a rank pull. We match each other with a chip and two putts so my net par takes me an incredible 3up. Will this match go much further?

German 3up

We both find the same spot off the tee at 13 but the similarities end there. Poulter powers his 2nd over the tributary to Rae’s creek whilst 2 shots later I’m in it. By the time I’ve made my 7 net 6, he’s in for birdie and already on the 14th tee sensing a comeback.

German 2up

I pull my drive into the left trees and only advance the ball to within a p/w of the green The Postman hits the flag with his second! Tricky 6 footer left for birdie. Incredibly my wedge is perfect and feeds down to gimme length. Pressure back on Poults... he misses

German 3 up

Clearly rattled, Poults lays up with an iron at 15. Sensing victory I go for it and find myself long but dry. A sensational wedge 3rd leaves Ian a tap in birdie. I chip to 25ft and lag my birdie attempt to 3 ft. Tension builds... but I make it to half and go dormie.

German 3 up