Ian Poulter missed greens, putts slipped past the hole, and the score ticked up towards embarrassing numbers.
At 46 years old, the Ian Poulter on show at the Genesis Scottish Open these last two days was one past his best, and struggling in the spotlight of his controversial decision to joining the Saudi funded LIV Golf Series.
His abysmal 10 over par, vying not to finish last in the 160 strong field, probably only served to prove his point: at his age, if a rebel golf tour offers an aging pro a guaranteed $20-30m just to play, never mind the performances, it’s a “no-brainer.”
The winner at Renaissance Club this week will bank $1.4m of the $8m prize fund. Winnings fall to “just” $17k if you finish 65th….and down to a couple of thousand, which won’t even cover costs for those missing the cut like Poulter. The Saudi signing on, appearance fees removes that jeopardy. Rory McIlroy accused the likes of Poulter of having their cake and eating it, by wanting to take the LIV cash, and stay on the established tours.
Well, Poulter only won a tiny slice of this cake. Poulter has maximised his talent in his 350-plus tournaments, and Ryder Cup heroics. And he’s been someone who has fed off the love of the crowd, rather than being the figurehead of controversy and a civil war going on in golf between the two main tours, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund disruptors. There may have been smiles in the locker-room over his flop here after initially being banned, with other Saudi sign ups, by the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour, given the animosity it has caused.
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Poulter won a last-gasp legal fight to be able to play and admitted: “It is not an easy process to go through, it has been exhausting.” He must have wished he’d not bothered, after not hitting a single green in regulation on Thursday and nine bogeys. On Friday he was handed the earliest start, 7.15am - up with the lawnmowers the only punishment the DP World Tour could give him - to bogey the first two holes with his short game falling apart, and another at the ninth.
He steadied his round and got a birdie 2 on the 12th and trudged off with a two over 72, knowing he’ll have to do better at the Old Course at St Andrews next week when the Open tees off. Then it’s back to the LIV money making. The world No100 will play at the third LIV event at Bedminster, Trump National in the US. That’s where his pension fund really gets filled these days. As the LIV rebels keep saying: “It’s a business decision.”
