Ian Poulter has already told Ryder Cup-winning teammate Graeme McDowell he will win the UBS Hong Kong Open - now it's time for the Englishman to deliver after opening up a two-shot lead over the US Open champion heading into today's delicately poised final round.
The world number 14 made the bold prediction over lunch on Tuesday and, after adding a third-round six-under-par 64 to Friday's scintillating 60, Poulter is in the box seat at 19 under par to claim a second victory of the year without a dropped shot to his name this week.
McDowell (pictured left on the 10th hole) had been going quietly about his business all week with back-to-back rounds of 65 before yesterday's 63, which like Poulter's contained an eagle, and earned a place in today's final pairing. Simon Dyson was a shot further off the pace, one clear of two-time runner-up Rory McIlroy and Anthony Kang.
'It's going to be a great day,' Poulter said. 'I'm looking forward to it. We have had some fun certainly over the past few weeks. Graeme's in good form, I'm in good form, Rory is playing well, Simon Dyson is up there, so this golf course is going to give up a low score and it should be good fun.
'We had lunch earlier in the week and we were having a little bit of banter in the pub and I told Graeme I was going to win this week. And then Rory walked in and they had a bit of banter because Graeme had just gone a place in front of Rory in the world rankings,' said Poulter, who finished a disappointing sixth in defence of his Singapore Open title last time out.
After salvaging an opening-hole par with a 15-foot conversion following a wayward tee shot, Poulter hit the ground running with a second-hole birdie from inside 20 feet, before an eagle putt from 15 feet a hole later after a superb five-iron approach.