Ian Poulter insists he has come to terms with the fact he may never win a major.
The 43-year-old, a 12-time winner on the European Tour, is well-placed heading into the weekend of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open after rounds of 65 and 67 for a 10-under total.
This week’s host venue The Renaissance Club seems an apt setting for Poulter, who has climbed back up the golfing ladder in recent times after sliding outside the world’s top 200 and almost losing his PGA Tour card two years ago.
But, with five top-10 finishes this season, the Englishman is back inside the top 40 and trending in the right direction ahead of next week’s major in Northern Ireland.
Poulter, though, says his career would not feel incomplete if he does not manage to get across the winning line at a major.
When asked if he could emulate Darren Clarke’s feat of winning The Open the other side of 40, Poulter said: “You know, I don’t have to win one.
“You are asking me that question so I’ll tell you that I’ll go out there and win next week.
“It sounds wrong for me to say I don’t care if I do or I don’t. But it’s not the be-all and end-all of my life if I don’t.
“If one comes along and I get my hands on one, great. I tell you what, the party is going to be pretty impressive.
“But, until it does, I’m not thinking about it.
“There are obviously going to be a lot of other golfers feeling more pressure than me going into next week.”
Poulter is content heading into The Open without the weight of expectation on his shoulders.
He said: “It’s perfect. It’s all on Brooks (Koepka), Rory (McIlroy), Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and all the others.
“I guess I can fly under the radar and have a bit of fun. I’m happy to be able to go into majors feeling that way and playing some good golf. It’s a great position to be in.”
When asked about his confidence, he added: “I’ve been going into a couple of Opens inside the top ten in the world.
“Being a bit younger and a bit more fiery, maybe nine years ago, I would have felt more confident.
“I’m a little bit older and wiser, greyer too, and probably a bit more chilled, to be honest.”