The Open 2013: Ian Poulter likens display to Ryder Cup heroics

Ian Poulter said his superb final-round performance at the Open was reminiscent of his displays at Medinah during last year's Ryder Cup.

Poulter won all four of his matches for Europe at the 2012 team event playing some superb golf, and on Sunday the Englishman shot 67 to come within four shots of Open champion Phil Mickelson.

"They were going in the middle like they were in Medinah," he said.

"The fans out today were giving me a lot of electricity and pumping me up."

Poulter began the day eight shots off the pace. The 37-year-old dropped further back after a bogey on the third, but a birdie on the fifth put him back on track.

His run from the ninth started with a 25-foot eagle before he rolled in from 40 feet and added two more from 25 feet for a hat-trick of birdies. A bogey on the 16th blemished what was an outstanding final nine holes.

The Hertfordshire player finished tied third for the championship - his fifth top-ten major finish in three years.

"It's nice to be in that position when you're playing in front of a home crowd, holing 15-foot putts for eagles, birdies, and running up that leaderboard.

"Today was the day where I felt the putter started to work."

Poulter said previous feats by his peers made him realise that he could achieve a sporting miracle at Muirfield.

"I was eight back, realistically, do you really think you've got a chance to run straight through and nick it?" he continued.

"Going to bed last night, probably not, but you just realise that Paul Lawrie came from 10 back [in 1999].

"There was a six-shot swing in four holes last year. This tournament does it year in, year out, and it creates a lot of drama.

"You've just got to find yourself in position around the back nine and see if it's good enough."