‘There needs to be changes’: Ian Poulter calls for heads to roll after controversial merger

Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood have called for changes to personnel at golf’s governing bodies if the sport is to move forward peacefully in the new era.

During a round table with the Majesticks team and a small group of select journalists ahead of the LIV Golf London event at Centurion, at which bunkered was present, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, as well as teammates Henrik Stenson, Sam Horsfield and Laurie Canter, were asked if “heads must roll” at the top end of the sport.

“Yes,” Poulter replied, before adding: “People need to be accountable for their actions. It would definitely help. I’m not going to say what those changes have to be but I think we would add value to a tournament if we were to play. Shall we say, there needs to be changes.”

• Phil Mickelson shares “FULL truth” about merger

• Cam Smith felt Open win was overshadowed by LIV

Players from all domains were left reeling after the bombshell “framework agreement” that will see PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan act as chief executive of a new commercial entity chaired by PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

Monahan came under huge scrutiny after previously referencing the 9/11 atrocity as a reason for players to remain loyal to the PGA Tour and turn down Saudi advances for the LIV series.

Poulter’s fellow Ryder Cup stalwart Westwood agrees with the widespread view that some of golf’s leading figures have acted in a duplicitous manner.

“There’s a lot of people now looking like hypocrites,” the 50-year-old said. “You’ve seen what people are saying in the press and now they’re backtracking. Jay even admitted himself he’s going to look hypocritical. We don’t have to say it any more.”

Whether or not Poulter and Westwood’s feelings towards Monahan and others extends to LIV commissioner Greg Norman remains to be seen. But they were keen to speak out in the Australian’s defence.

“I’ll always take Greg as I’ve always found him and he’s been good to me,” Poulter said. “It’s not an easy job, but I think he’s done a great job.

“I can only comment on facts, and the facts that I know is that LIV is moving forward and it’s business as usual. So for us, that’s exciting. I can’t speculate on the speculation that’s out there, but we are full steam ahead at LIV and as Team Majesticks.”

Westwood added: “I’m delighted with the way Greg has handled all this and the way he’s conveyed everything to me.

“I’ve always had a great relationship with Greg. He’s stuck by his word with regard to LIV and where it’s going and never kept us in the dark and always informed us of anything that’s going to happen.

“I can’t talk for the other guys, but no complaints.”

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