LIV Golf member Ian Poulter slammed an American journalist telling him to "show respect for Queen Elizabeth" in response to a critical tweet.
Poulter is one of 17 LIV Golf rebels playing at this weekend's DP World Tour event at Wentworth. They were asked by European tour CEO Keith Pelley earlier this week to show respect for the Tour and not wear LIV Golf branded clothing.
However, in his opening round at Wentworth, Poulter wore a shirt including the badge of his LIV Golf team, Majesticks GC. Poulter, whose contract with LIV Golf is believed to be worth £22million, said that he had a right to wear the clothing.
Poulter took exception to a tweet by journalist Rex Hoggard, who tweeted: "European tour CEO Keith Pelley asked the LIV players in this week's BMW PGA field to not wear their LIV team gear. Most did not. Ian Poulter did, with the logo of his team on his shirt. 'This is a business I own a part of and I have a right to wear it,'
The tweet was sent at 5.48pm and it was announced that that Queen Elizabeth II had died from a statement by Buckingham Palace at 6.30pm.
Poulter replied: "'Rex, Sorry Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has passed away. And you can't help yourself and continue to throw pettiness out to the world. Show some RESPECT in these sad times.
"Give yourself a day off. #RIP Elizabeth. Just for clarification this is not my LIV gear."
Poulter sits in joint 25 th at-3 and five shots off the lead after the opening round at Wentworth yesterday (Thursday). The second round has been postponed after the Queen's death with organisers "hopeful of restarting the BMW PGA at some stage over the weekend."
It has been a tense build-up at Wentworth and Poulter was filmed in a heated exchange with PGA Tour member and LIV Golf critic Billy Horschel.
Poulter, who has been on the winning Europe team in the Ryder Cup five times, defended his choice to wear LIV Golf branded clothing during the first round.
He added: “I've had a lot of different branded shirts in the last number of weeks. This is a business that I actually own part of, so it has a right to be there.
"I just have had about six different sets of clothes in the last five weeks of which I can't possibly go to the embroiderers and have another set made up for this week. I am here for three weeks. I'm traveling, so this was the set I brought.”
Poulter had a mixed reception when he took to the first tee at Wentworth with some boos while other applauded the 12-time European Tour event winner.
