Having never previously finished better than ninth at any of golf's four biggest events, the 32-year-old went into the third round of The Masters at Augusta joint third and only three shots behind leader Trevor Immelman. Poulter intends to enjoy every second of it. And why wouldn't he given where he was little more than a decade ago?

Only a four-handicapper when he turned professional in 1994, the Hitchin-born player spent the next few years as a club assistant earning £3.20 an hour, selling tees, repairing clubs and vacuuming the pro shop. From those humble beginnings Poulter has risen to European Tour winner and a Ryder Cup cap, but going for a green jacket is new territory.

"When I turned pro I had that kind of naive inner belief, but I didn't understand what it would take to get on Tour at the time," he said after his 69 yesterday.

"I'm in a great position – certainly the best I've been in after two rounds of a major – and playing the way I've played I'm feeling pretty confident.

"But Augusta National is a difficult golf course and it's never over til it's over."

Poulter took over as Europe's leading hope from his close friend Justin Rose, who from sharing the lead with Immelman slumped to 29th with a 78 – eight of them on the par five 15th.

Second place is held by little-known American Brandt Snedeker on seven under – Immelman is eight under – while alongside Poulter are left-handers Steve Flesch and Phil Mickelson. Tiger Woods carded a 71 to move to one under par.