Ian Poulter ‘not happy’ as he continues LIV Golf pursuit

Ian Poulter is hoping playing back on English soil will help him rediscover a bit of form as he looks to end the LIV Golf season on a high.

Though he is safe from relegation as a captain of Majesticks GC, Poulter is currently 45th in the league’s standings, just four places above the drop zone having mustered just one top-ten all year. His next best finish is a tie for 21st.

But as LIV’s UK event prepares to get underway at JCB Golf & Country Club after its move from Centurion, Poulter says to get his maiden victory on the circuit – and, indeed, his first win of any kind since the 2018 Houston Open on the PGA Tour – would “mean an awful lot”.

“For me, it’s about having the right adrenaline, the right attitude, the right mindset to go out there this week, have fun on the golf course with the fans, enjoy myself,” he explained.

“If we are successful this week, this will rank pretty highly, being 48 and a bit.”

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Speaking to reporters at the Staffordshire club, the man known as The Postman – because he always delivers – was particularly damning of his form since becoming one of the marquee names to join LIV when it was formed two years ago.

“I don’t think I’ve delivered the performance in the LIV events that I think I should have done,” he admitted.

“I’m not happy with my play over the last couple of seasons.”

Poulter does, however, believe he is “very close”, adding: “I had one decent round of golf and two OK rounds of golf and played 16 great holes and two poor holes.”

Poulter, who was joined in his pre-tournament press conference by Majesticks co-captain Lee Westwood, added that home comforts will hopefully play a role this week.

“Whenever we have the opportunity to come and play in front of home fans should be awesome for us. We don’t play enough golf over here, so when we do, it’s pretty special.

“This is going to be a tough test this week. The golf course layout is good, but it’s going to be strong, and we’re really looking forward to the challenge.”

Westwood added: “This is obviously our home event, and even more so for me, because I’m from the Midlands, and I did grow up only an hour and 20 minutes away. My phone has been quite lively for the last month or so with people wanting tickets. It’ll be fun playing in front of friends and family and also people from this area in England.

“It’s always special to play in the UK. Golf fans are very knowledgeable. They’re great fans. I’m sure they’re looking forward to coming out and seeing some world-class golf.”

Alex Perry is the Associate Editor of bunkered. A journalist for more than 20 years, he has been a golf industry stalwart for the majority of his career and, in a five-year spell at ESPN, covered every sporting event you can think of. He completed his own Grand Slam at the 2023 Masters, having fallen in love with the sport at his hometown club of Okehampton and on the links of nearby Bude & North Cornwall.

Associate Editor