Open contenders Poulter and Casey hope to kickstart careers at 40

With millions in the bank, jetset lifestyles and achievements on their resumes that would be the envy of every hacker out there, only their harshest of critics would label Ian Poulter and Paul Casey nearly men.

But, ten years ago, few would have predicted both would enter their 40th years without one of golf's major titles in their collection.

It's 14 years since Casey lead the first round of The Open at Royal Troon and nine years since Poulter's best finish, second behind Padraig Harrington here at Royal Birkdale.

But, you know what they say about where life begins. Poulter likes to talk but he admits his stint commentating on last year's Open - which he missed due to injury - was his lowest point on a golf course.

He loves being in the cut and thrust, with the attention at full glare, and yet he needed to qualify to avoid missing a sixth major in succession.

Casey's four-under 66 leads the British challenge, one short behind the leaders, but Poulter's 67 was the better performance in the worst of the weather.

"Last year I was commentating, which one of the most difficult things I've done," said Poulter, after carding his lowest opening round in 54 major appearances.

"As someone that's played quite a few majors, now I choose not to watch a lot of the golf because it was too disappointing to watch TV.

"I try to spend more time with the kids and enjoy that, rather than sit there and have disappointment on my face. It's too easy to get down when you're not playing those big tournaments.

"It's too easy to get down when golf seems to be difficult and that means it's even more special to be back here playing.

"I've had some low spots in the last 18 months and this time last year I was getting very down. It's hard when you feel you're a great player and all of a sudden you're hampered with a bit of injury and you're not getting the results you want.

"It's very easy to slide away, so I'm proud of the way I've been able to refocus and get things back on the straight and narrow. I've cleared away some of the noise in the background and got back to really focusing on what I need to do to get the level of golf back that I think I can play."

Poulter played just 13 tournaments last year but underlined his potential with a second place in the Players' Championship, the unofficial fifth major, earlier this year. He shared the lead at last week's Scottish Open and came here flying under the radar but brimming with confidence that just one year ago had evaporated.

"Birkdale nine years ago felt pretty good and it felt just as good again," he added.

"I didn't think about 2008 until the putt on the last to be honest, but it gave me a little bit of a buzz."

Casey - whose best Open finish was a tie for third in 2010 - turns 40 on Friday and admits his major record needs improvement despite achieving top tens in all four tournaments.

Too often he's been in the mix after 54 holes; if Sunday really was a day of rest and tournaments finished on Saturday, things could be so different.

"Apparently life begins at 40 so maybe that's a good omen for me," Casey said after a round containing five birdies and a solitary bogey.

"I'm more in love with links golf than before and this course helps. Birkdale might be my favourite course on the rota."

Casey's preparations for Birkdale were certainly unorthodox with a cycling holiday in Italy alongside caddie John McLaren.

He arrives here ranked 16th in the world after five top-12 finishes in seven events, including a third straight top-six finish at the Masters in Augusta.

"I love cycling, I probably do 200 miles a week back home, so it was a really enjoyable break before The Open," he said.

"When Johnny came on the bag in 2015 we had a five-year plan to win a major. The Open has never been the one I have fared the best in. I feel really good about this week but I don't know why."

The last seven majors have produced first-time winners, Casey and Poulter are just hoping the trend continues.

Sportsbeat 2017