In a way it's very apt that the 34-year-old triumphed in a city that is known for rewarding those with a strong work ethic and self belief, because few in the professional game have worked harder or have more desire than Poulter.
Born in Stevenage, a small town to the north of London, to working-class parents, trendsetting Poulter once earned money by working in a market selling clothes (what else?) on the weekends to help fund his golf.
Unlike contemporaries Luke Donald and Paul Casey, Poulter didn't make a name for himself on the amateur circuit and turned professional with a handicap of four, becoming an assistant pro at a local course, which in England means spending more time selling Mars bars and re- gripping members' clubs than it does playing or practicing. At the time, Poulter earned the princely sum of HK$45 an hour.
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