LIV Golf rebel Ian Poulter has aimed a fresh dig at those around the sport who have scrutinised players heading for the Saudi-funded circuit.
The 46-year-old was part of the first intake of players who accepted a spot in the rival competition, which has lured a number of the PGA Tour 's top stars with highly lucrative deals. LIV Golf—which is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF)—has been criticised by many as another attempt at 'sportswashing'.
Poulter glazed over that aspect when he celebrated an image posted by journalist Jim Tucker at this past weekend's Australian PGA Championship. The competition was won by home favourite and fellow LIV defector Cameron Smith, and Tucker's photo showed two young brothers in attendance sporting major mullets in homage to their hero.
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Another English professional, David Howell, replied to the post and revealed he had chatted to the two siblings, Randy and Willy, at the Brisbane contest. He noted it was "great to see kids out enjoying the golf" before Poulter waded in with a jibe at those who may not agree with LIV's emergence.
“How awesome is (sic). . .These kids can watch their favorite (sic) golfers play on home soil without being shammed (sic), cast aside, dumped out of the TV draw, or disgraced in the media," tweeted 'The Postman' in response. "None of these kids care what TOURS he plays on. They just want to watch them play golf.”
Poulter was among a group of LIV rebels who were fined £100,000 and temporarily banned from the DP World Tour after featuring at the inaugural event on the LIV Golf Invitational Series. He and others were later allowed to play in the Scottish Open having opened legal proceedings against both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour.
That was despite the fact players were warned they would be punished should they decide to join the rival competition. Poulter is expected to attend a hearing in February, which will help determine the future participation of LIV golfers on the established Tours.
Poulter's tweet led to a mixed response among his followers as one bemoaned: "Talk about molding (sic) a tweet to suit your propaganda." Others empathised with the LIV cause, however, as another wrote: "Lots of other sports are funded by 'Saudi money' and don’t get the backlash these guys have had."
Saudi Arabia's human rights record, as well as its discrimination of women and the LGBTQ+ community, have been highlighted as reasons not to support competitions financed by the competition. Poulter and Lee Westwood failed to address such topics when asked by Mirror Sport at the inaugural LIV Golf event in June, with clear answers on such matters often difficult to come by among those who have joined.
