NEW ORLEANS -- One look at the list of past champions of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans indicates history might be on flamboyant Englishman Ian Poulter’s side as the $6 million event turns for home at English Turn Golf and Country Club.

The tournament has been won by a Canadian (George Knudson), a Spaniard (Seve Ballesteros), a South African (David Frost), a Welshman (Ian Woosnam), an Englishman (Lee Westwood ), a Paraguayan (Carlos Franco, twice), a South Korean (K.J. Choi) and a Fijian (Vijay Singh). And Poulter, in the midst of his second season as a member of the PGA TOUR after he became eligible as a member of the 2004 European Ryder Cup team, would like nothing better than to add his name to championship hardware.

“It would be another step, a step forward,’’ Poulter, 31, said after completing a 4-under-par 68 in the second round for a 36-hole total of nine-under 135, three strokes behind halfway leader Joe Durant. “I’ve won six times back home, but winning on the PGA TOUR holds all merit.’’

There’s certainly is a lot of golf left and a lot of players in contention at English Turn, a Jack Nicklaus design that is yielding bushels of low numbers. But no one has struck the ball better than Poulter on Thursday and Friday. He has hit 25 of 28 fairways (89 percent) and 28 of 36 greens, a slew of small targets that place much of the shot-making precision on approaches.

Poulter isn’t just hitting the greens though. He is hitting it close as his average distance to the hole on Thursday was 14 feet, eight inches. For the tournament his average is 20 feet, eight inches.

“I like that stat,’’ Poulter said. “If I matched that stat every week in my golfing career I think I would win most weeks.’’

If Poulter putted well, that is. When a player is hitting it that close, he should make his fair share. Poulter has made some, but not enough. Those close-range misses have a way of frustrating a golfer.

Poulter would prefer to accentuate the positive, admitting he has let putting woes get the better of him in the past.

“You keep talking like that and it’s bound to effect you,’’ he said. “I’ve got to stay patient, which I haven’t done in the past. The last couple of months I’ve been talking about not putting well. That’s negative.

“I had a look at myself on video two weeks ago. It reassured me there’s nothing wrong with my mechanics. It’s just a matter of getting that little white ball in the hole.’’

Poulter took a different approach to preparations for his first trip to New Orleans and English Turn. Feeling weary after a tie for 21st in Houston last week, he decided to hang around his United States home base in Orlando and fly to New Orleans first thing Wednesday, seeing the course for the first time in the Pro-Am. He was thrown a curve when the event was washed out.

“I walked the golf course late Wednesday afternoon,’’ he said. “I go out there and play fantastic. So it’s funny, but I wouldn’t want to do it every week. But obviously I feel comfortable on the golf course and I feel like my short game’s on so...’’

Ian Poulter's pants are as colorful as his character. (Feldman/WireImage)

Poulter is one of golf’s clothes horses. And he doesn’t mind putting himself out there on the fairways and greens in outlandish patterns and colors.

“I enjoy the fashion side of things,’’ said Poulter, who also stands out because of the blond spikes in his dark hair. “It doesn't detract from my golf. It helps me. If I feel comfortable, I’ll play better.’’

But for the first time he can remember, Poutler broke from fashion tradition this week. All he packed for his trip was a carry bag. He was asked if that was news.

“That’s unbelievable,’’ he said. “It’s the first time ever I walked onto the airplane and not checked baggage. I showed Justin (Rose) last night. I said you’ve got to see the size of my suitcase. It’s ridiculous. It’s the smallest I could find in my house.

“Somebody gave it to me. I never thought I’d ever use it. But I put in four pairs of trousers, four golf shirts, four pairs of boxer shorts, four pairs of socks, a pair of jeans, three tee shirts, a toothbrush. Happy days.’’

What happens if the tournament spills over to a Monday finish?

“I’m stuck,’’ said Poulter, who was wearing a fire engine red pair of slacks Friday. “Good point actually. I better put something in the dry cleaners.’’