Ian Poulter issues Masters statement after LIV Golf star spotted at Augusta

Ian Poulter has confirmed he will not be playing at The Masters this year with the Brit’s last feature in the prestigious golf tournament coming in 2021

LIV Golf star Ian Poulter has clarified that he won’t be playing in this year’s Masters despite visiting the tournament’s headquarters at Augusta and playing a round of golf at the invitation of a member.

The 48-year-old last competed in the Masters in 2021, marking his 16th appearance at the tournament, during which time he has earned three top-10s and nine top-25s. This year it’s the Masters,” Poulter said on social media. “One of the participants asked me to play and he was in incredible shape. His last tournament was in 2021. And this will be my last tournament in the Masters category. I had a chance in 2019, but I didn’t take it. I don’t regret anything. Of the 16 games played, nine finished inside the top 25. I only failed once. It’s a really special place. ”

Poulter has been participating in the LIV Golf Tour, a Saudi-backed separatist rebel group, since its inception in 2022. The Ryder Cup legend was one of several top golfers to take part in the competitive circuit. Negotiations are ongoing between LIV Golf, the PGA Tour, and the DP World Tour regarding a future merger. But as for Poulter, he doesn’t have time to sway LIV Golf’s detractors. “Being dual-faced is a terrifying quality,” he said on social media earlier this year. “It would be embarrassing to change my story now and go out there and try to look smart. I’d be happy to sit down and tell you everything. I would appreciate it if you could tell it like it is. This woman has had enough. »

Unlike Poulter, PGA stalwart Rory McIlroy, who will be playing at Augusta this year, was initially harshly critical of LIV Golf, but has since gradually distanced himself from it and embraced the circuit as part of the sport’s future. He is one of the top golf stars. . “At this point, I think I was a little critical of the people who went to LIV Golf in the first place. I think that was a small mistake on my part, because not everyone is in my position. Because I realize now, ‘Or Tiger Wood’s position,”’ McIlroy admitted.

“We all look to professionals to make a living from the sports we play, and I think that’s what I’ve learned over the last few years. I can’t judge the people who made that decision, so if I have any regrets, it’s probably because I was too critical to begin with. ”

McIlroy added: “For the past two years, I have lived my life with an altruistic approach to seeing the world as I would like to see it.

“At the end of the day, you can say whatever you want, you can do whatever you want, but at the end of the day, you can’t change people’s minds. Never force them to make a decision based on what you say. “I won’t say we’ve lost the battle with LIV, but we’ve accepted the fact that it’s become part of our sport.”