LIV Golf rebel Ian Poulter feels the game has ‘changed for the good’, as he eyes his maiden major championship success at this week’s Open. Poulter’s name has been prevalent in recent months following his recent switch to the Saudi-backed tour.
He, alongside fellow European stars Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia and marquee PGA Tour names Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, made the move in June, ahead of the breakaway circuit’s inaugural event at the Centurion Club in St Albans.
The LIV Golf Series has been at the centre of the sport’s recent shift away from its usual traditions, after offering a somewhat controversial platform for the world’s top golfers, away from the long-established PGA and DP World Tours. The new circuit has undoubtedly caused a stir within the sport, splitting the opinion of golf’s elite.
Poulter is of course on the pro-LIV Golf side of the ongoing battle, after competing in the opening two events at Centurion and in Portland. Whether fans agree with his stance or not, the Englishman is set to provide them with an inside look as to what goes on behind the scenes at the contentious series as well as across the rest of his golfing season after announcing the release of his new media channel on streaming site Recast.
The 46-year-old’s online move looks to be another step in golf taking a more modern approach in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience - an argument often used to defend LIV’s new movement - and he believes this recent change has only benefited the game. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Sport , Poulter said: “It [golf] has got younger, it has moved… I think golf is on a really wonderful trend, and there are some good personalities in the game.
“I think golf has definitely changed for the good. I feel the stigma of it being an older gentleman’s game has definitely changed and I think there is a lot of fun in and around the world of golf right now.”
Poulter will unsurprisingly be one of the most watched and talked about players at this week’s Open Championship following his recent Saudi switch and legal battle with the DP World Tour, after he was banned from last week’s Scottish Open by the Wentworth-based circuit. He proved successful in his appeal to overturn the suspension and was allowed to compete.
But things did not go to plan on his return to links golf, as a torrid opening two rounds saw the five-time Ryder Cup winner shoot 10-over-par for the event and miss the cut by seven shots. It was unclear how Poulter would be received by the Scottish crowd due to his new found LIV allegiance, but he only had praise for how he was treated by those watching on. “It has been incredible,” he said.
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“I think I wore my wrist out signing for all of them last week but it has been great. I have always had a really nice following up here [in Scotland]. I have always donned the tartan trousers which they love… It is only Monday [at The Open] and it has already been amazing.”
Poulter will be hoping for more of the same when he tees it up at St Andrews this week. His goal for the final major of the campaign is clear - to be the man holding the famous title in front of the Old Course faithful at the end of Sunday’s final round.
“My end goal this week is to hold the Claret Jug on that 18th green on Sunday, that is my end goal," he said.
“My performances in the last couple of weeks have been very poor, that is something I need to have a level of commitment to my practice routines this week, focus and not have any distractions in any shape or form. For me it is semi back to the ground, because there is nothing wrong with my golf game at all, just a little tweak here or there to have that extra level of concentration, and I am looking forward to a great week.”
Recast is a subscription-free, live and on-demand streaming platform which gives fans easy and affordable access to the sports and entertainment they love, and pays publishers for every single view. Visit Ian Poulter's Recast Channel here . For more information about Recast, visit recast.app
