After many golf writers declared Darren Clarke a lock for this year's Ryder Cup, captain Nick Faldo caught many off guard by selecting both Ian Poulter and Paul Casey as captain's picks. Both Englishmen missed the cut this week at the Deutsche Bank Championship and haven't won a tournament this year. Clarke, on the other hand, has been on a tear, winning twice. More as it comes later tonight...
Ian Poulter
August 31, 2008
August 28, 2008
"I can safely say, hand on heart, that I have not been given the nod"
With the British press doing what they do best, speculating, an irritated Ian Poulter addressed the media earlier today at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Poulter denied rumors that captain Nick Faldo had already given him the nod for a captain's pick, thus giving him the leeway to play at the Deutsche Bank. Here's some of Poulter's vent session:
I can safely say, hand on heart, that I have not been given the nod, just to clear that up once and for all, to stop all of the nonsense that's been in the papers, the nonsense from the players talking," he said.
I'm disgusted that people, players, media have put what they've put, and have, and would, basically think that Nick Faldo would be that unprofessional to have done such a thing a week before a number of different scenarios could have actually happened. I'm amazed that people would think he would have done that. I know he hasn't done that because I know for a fact I haven't been given the nod.
So I just think it's pathetic that people can even assume, write or think that that's the case. He's been a professional for the last 30 years of his career and he's not going to start changing that now.
That, I hope, clears that fact up and underlines it and puts it in a nice box and does whatever it wants to. But that is exactly the truth and nothing but the truth.
July 31, 2008
"Don't bother playing then"
The Europeans sure do get fired up over any form of critique or downgrading of the Ryder Cup. Hunter Mahan, who is a pretty reserved guy, told Golf Magazine that the Americans don't take the Ryder Cup seriously enough because of the lack of money. He added that they are treated like "slaves."
The one and only Ian Poulter responded earlier today at Firestone: (quotes are in no particular order from The Independent article)
Don't bother playing then.
If they don't want to treat it seriously, then we'll keep winning. And that would be very nice.
If people like that don't want to take it seriously then that's up to them. But obviously he shouldn't play or shouldn't want to play. But I tell you what, there are a lot of other players out there who want his place.
It looks like Mahan will have to play his way onto this squad.
January 31, 2008
Poulter angered by quote
After Ian Poulter fired an opening round 2-under 70 at the Dubai Desert Classic, he spoke to the media about his interview in Golf World UK magazine. An angered Poulter said:
The question was asked, where do I see myself and could I get to No. 1 in the world. My answer to that question was, 'As long as Tiger Woods is playing golf, I can't get to No. 1 in the world and nor can many other players. And quite frankly, if I do fulfill my potential, I do believe the gap between me and second is achievable, so therefore I do have a chance of getting second in the world if I work hard and fulfill my potential.
Chris Jones, the Editor of Golf World UK, said the full interview with Poulter should be read, rather than the 'juicy soundbites' the media has published, reports the Associated Press.
Ian's manager is happy with the interview as it appeared in the March issue of Golf World magazine, where Ian's comments can be seen in the full context they were intended. People should read the full interview, rather than the juicy soundbites picked up by the British media.
January 30, 2008
Poulter says he can challenge Woods when he plays at full potential
In the March issue of the UK version of Golf World magazine (pictured right), Ian Poulter is quoted as saying:
Don’t get me wrong, I really respect every professional golfer, but I know I haven’t played to my full potential and when that happens, it will be just me and Tiger.
When Poulter was asked by Golf World who he thought would win The Masters, he replied, "Put Tiger down for that one." When asked about the US Open at Torrey Pines, he said, "You can put me down for that one." Jason Sobel of ESPN.com offers an interesting perspective:
But upon further inspection, we should note that unlike the comments of Sabbatini, Ames and Mickelson, Poulter meant no disrespect toward Woods. In fact, the Englishman went out of his way to praise the game's top-ranked player. "Tiger is one in a million," he said. "Actually Tiger is one in 10 million. He is extraordinary. If you look at the rankings he is almost two and a half times better than the guy in second place."
These comments have little to do with Woods' superiority and more to do with the confidence -- or shall we call it cockiness? -- of Poulter. Is that such a bad thing? Should the rest of the world's best golfers be content to play second fiddle rather than trying to compete at the same level as Tiger?
He’s much more jovial than Rory Sabbatini. But what all these people have in common, is when they actually play in the same group as Tiger, they get throttled. They get crushed time and time again. On the quotes alone, I love Ian Poulter.
Golf Channel analyst Brian Hewitt said jokingly on The Grey Goose 19th Hole on The Golf Channel:
I’m just waiting for Rory Sabbatini to come out and say that Ian Poulter is more beatable than ever. Rory is getting left out of the debate here, I don’t think he likes that…The match that you most want to see in golf right now all of a sudden isn’t Rory vs. Tiger, it’s Ian Poulter vs. Tiger…And if it happens, I’ve got a prediction, Tiger wins 10 & 8. He’ll beat his brains out.
