Palm Harbor, Florida  …

Ian Poulter has superbly drawn on the caddy to two former women World No. 1s to put himself into contention after two rounds of the Valspar Championship at Palm Harbor on Florida’s west coast.

Poulter bounced back from a one-over par 72 first round to add a second day four-under par 67 and a three under par tally in continuing glorious conditions on the Copperhead course at the Innisbrook Resort.

Ian Poulter post his second round at the 2017 Valspar Champiionship.

The Englishman’s only disappointment on day two of the £STG 5.17m event was dropping a shot at the last after five earlier birdies including back-to-back birdies at five and six.

“Overall today was a very solid round of golf and with all but say one putt, a 30-footer, I had putts you would expect to covert,” he said.

“It was a good fightback after being one over score yesterday and with the only disappointment today being that bogey at the last that sort of ruined what was going to be clean slate.”

Poulter’s long-time regular caddy, Terry Mundy is battling a back complaint that could need surgery and while Mundy has been on hand to provide moral support, Pouter arranged for Australian-born caddy Jason Hamilton to carry his clubs.

The Melbourne-born Hamilton, and now aged 46, had caddied for New Zealand golfers Danny Lee and Tim Wilkinson but found caddying fame working for Taiwan sensation Yani Tseng in her run to become Women’s World No. 1 and with Tseng also capturing five Major Championships.

He then teamed with Kiwi Lydia Ko in late 2014, and in her rookie season, and with the duo teaming to win 13 times, 10 of those victories on the LPGA Tour and with two being Major triumphs.

And with Hamilton calling the shots, Ko became the youngest female player to be crowned World No. 1 while Ko had Hamilton on the bag also when she was awarded the Silver Medal at last year’s Rio Olympic Games.

However, a short time later Ko’s management team sacked Hamilton in a highly controversial move after Ko finished well down the field in an event in South Korea.

In stepped Poulter and a good friend of Hamilton’s to secure his services in Mundy’s absence.

“Terry’s had some disc issues for some time and will see a specialist next Tuesday to assess where he may need surgery,” said Poulter.

Aussie born Jason Hamilton working with women’s World No. 1 Lydia Ko at last year’s Rio Olympics but this week calling the shots for Ian Poulter.

“But then I’ve got Jason Hamilton on the bag who has caddied a long time for Lydia Ko and Jani Tseng.

“Jason’s a really good friend and I’ve known him a long time and it’s the first time I’ve had to call on someone to take Terry’s place, and I guess everyone just gets used to seeing Terry and myself out there.

And while Poulter’s regular caddy could be going under the knife, Poulter is making the most of the opportunities presented to him by the PGA Tour and competing under a ‘Major Medical Exemption’ category.

Poulter had been side-lined for some four months last season after finally undergoing an operation on what became an unbearable arthritic right foot, and with the injury also seeing him fail to qualify for the Ryder Cup.

Aussie caddy Jason Hamilton and the pic on his Twitter page. (Photo – Jason Hamilton)

He returned to competition late in October at the Tour’s CIMB Classic in Malaysia and in the first of 10 events he’s been afforded by the PGA Tour where he has to earn $US 347,634, and the amount needed to equal the top-125 on last year’s 2015/16 money list to regain full membership

Ahead of teeing-off this week Poulter had earned $US 148,453 towards his goal.

“I am playing good enough golf at the minute and I am very comfortable with my game so I just need to forget about what is going on behind the scenes and just go play golf,” he said.

“If I go and play golf then I can do good stuff.

“The exemption is there in the back of my mind but if I can go and play like I did today then I will take care of what I need to do to properly secure my card.

“So, whatever happens, happens as my golf game is coming back to where I like it and I will be fine.”