A Personal History of a Maligned Tour Pro

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Clothing jokes and random Ryder Cup hating apart, Poulter's is one of the best stories of the game, a story of hard work and determination that had paid off!

So he somehow had to work harder to get less far than some other guys on tour? For example Angel Cabrera grew up in a house with a dirt floor... and he doesn't need to treat people like crap or brag about his wealth.

[nitram]

IJP treated me well on the '12 RocketBladez trip and he didn't have to.

 

As far as the '12 Ryder Cup performance, I'd have taken Poulter's contributions vs Stricker, Woods, Furyk, and Snedeker.

[Jackhammer993]

Comical

[imakaveli]

Clothing jokes and random Ryder Cup hating apart, Poulter's is one of the best stories of the game, a story of hard work and determination that had paid off!

So he somehow had to work harder to get less far than some other guys on tour? For example Angel Cabrera grew up in a house with a dirt floor... and he doesn't need to treat people like crap or brag about his wealth.

 

Lot of players brag about their wealth, Poulter just gets more hate about it

 

Edit: I am personally fine with people bragging, like Bubba with the General Lee or Mahan with his cars, they earned them

[Bye]

Whether you like him or not, what he has achieved is impressive. He was playing in the UK's PGA East Region events back in 97 on some real dirt tracks. So he has literally worked his way up from the bottom. A lot of the local pro's at the time near to me either knew or knew of him. He surprised a lot of people when he qualified for the European Tour, even more when he won his first event.

 

I remember a coach telling me back in the early 2000's that they saw IP at a tournament, he told me that IP had missed the previous 4 cuts but was walking round before the tournament started like he had won them. He won the event that week.

 

Once voted the most or second most overrated player on tour. If the question was asked who has made the most of their abilities over the past 20 years? He would be in my top 3

[Frankensteins Monster]

A 4 handicap in the UK is not the same as a 4 using the USGA handicap system.

 

Let's get that straight before this thread gets started...

 

How does it differ?

[Ferguson]

A 4 handicap in the UK is not the same as a 4 using the USGA handicap system.

 

Let's get that straight before this thread gets started...

 

How does it differ?

 

 

Metric System.

 

1 HC UK = .875240 HC USA

 

 

Also, their Quarter-Pounder with cheese is called a Royale with cheese.

[Bye]

A 4 handicap in the UK is not the same as a 4 using the USGA handicap system.

 

Let's get that straight before this thread gets started...

 

How does it differ?

 

 

Metric System.

 

1 HC UK = .875240 HC USA

 

 

Also, their Quarter-Pounder with cheese is called a Royale with cheese.

 

Vincent Vega went to Amsterdam not London.

[Bye]

A 4 handicap in the UK is not the same as a 4 using the USGA handicap system.

 

Let's get that straight before this thread gets started...

 

How does it differ?

 

I tried to find the short version but it is still 8 pages.

 

http://www.congu.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Players-quick-guide.pdf

 

The very short version.

 

Handicaps are adjusted after every competitive round. We only have to log 3 round per year to keep our handicaps live.

 

A 4 handicap is a classified as a category 1 golfer, this means they have their handicap reduced by 0.1 for every stroke below their handicap. They have a 1 shot "buffer" i.e. a 4 handicap shoots 75 on a par 70 course their handicap does not change. Handicaps only go up by 0.1 at a time for a bad round. So a 4 handicap on a par 70 course could shoot 76 or 99 and only go up by 0.1.

 

At the moment we do not have slope ratings, our course rating is the competitive standard scratch "CSS" which varies from course to course. This is the reference point for a players handicap. i.e. par 70 (CSS 71) our 4 handicap (with the "buffer") has to shoot 76 or better to maintain or reduce their handicap.

 

We still have a lot of sandbaggers or bandits as they are often referred to over here.

 

Hope that makes sense.

 

There is talk of a global handicap system.

[Frankensteins Monster]

A 4 handicap in the UK is not the same as a 4 using the USGA handicap system.

 

Let's get that straight before this thread gets started...

 

How does it differ?

 

I tried to find the short version but it is still 8 pages.

 

http://www.congu.co....quick-guide.pdf

 

The very short version.

 

Handicaps are adjusted after every competitive round. We only have to log 3 round per year to keep our handicaps live.

 

A 4 handicap is a classified as a category 1 golfer, this means they have their handicap reduced by 0.1 for every stroke below their handicap. They have a 1 shot "buffer" i.e. a 4 handicap shoots 75 on a par 70 course their handicap does not change. Handicaps only go up by 0.1 at a time for a bad round. So a 4 handicap on a par 70 course could shoot 76 or 99 and only go up by 0.1.

 

At the moment we do not have slope ratings, our course rating is the competitive standard scratch "CSS" which varies from course to course. This is the reference point for a players handicap. i.e. par 70 (CSS 71) our 4 handicap (with the "buffer") has to shoot 76 or better to maintain or reduce their handicap.

 

We still have a lot of sandbaggers or bandits as they are often referred to over here.

 

Hope that makes sense.

 

There is talk of a global handicap system.

 

Thanks for that info. In 2020 there will be a global handicap system.

[mocokid]

A 4 handicap in the UK is not the same as a 4 using the USGA handicap system.

 

Let's get that straight before this thread gets started...

 

How does it differ?

 

 

Metric System.

 

1 HC UK = .875240 HC USA

 

 

Also, their Quarter-Pounder with cheese is called a Royale with cheese.

 

Vincent Vega went to Amsterdam not London.

 

MayO-Naise on French FRIES, DIS gusting, SHeeit.

[Christosterone]

This should explain it

 

 

-Chris

[gatorpedsMD]

A 4 handicap in the UK is not the same as a 4 using the USGA handicap system.

 

Let's get that straight before this thread gets started...

 

I assumed wrxers know this....

But the point remains Ian wasn't shooting 66 and beating Graeme McDowell in an exhibition at the age of 16 like Rory...

 

what's the difference? honest question?

[Christosterone]

A 4 handicap in the UK is not the same as a 4 using the USGA handicap system.

 

Let's get that straight before this thread gets started...

 

I assumed wrxers know this....

But the point remains Ian wasn't shooting 66 and beating Graeme McDowell in an exhibition at the age of 16 like Rory...

 

what's the difference? honest question?

 

McIlroy, like Tiger, was a phenom....

He was 16 and had a [closed circuit] friendly with PGA stalwart Graeme McDowell when Rory was 16

Rory shot 66 at 16 on cc against one of the worlds best...

This was a stunning event and portended well for his on-the-road-to HoF career...

 

Justin Rose nearly won the Open Championship as a junior and was afforded sponsored exemptions in perpetuity...

I Think Justin missed his first 40+ cuts if memory serves...

 

Anyhow, Ian was not a phenom...but wound up phonmenal....at golf

 

That’s the point of this op...I’ve not ulterior motives...

 

-Chris

[Ferguson]

This should explain it

 

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-Chris

 

 

There should be a global burger system to accompany the new HC system.

Don't forget the pommes frites.

[Jordan Speeth]

Great post by the OP - it's neat to see how these guys came up in the world of Golf.

 

That being said, I have zero respect for Ian Poulter. Every time I picture him, all I see is a man dressed in pink, with spiked gel-filled hair, complaining about something. He's a so-so golfer that shows up once every two years for the Ryder Cup.

 

Perhaps I'm not giving 'proper' respect to the lad ?

 

 

 

So a World Top 50 player is just "so-so"? Tough crowd...

[Bomber_11]

Great post by the OP - it's neat to see how these guys came up in the world of Golf.

 

That being said, I have zero respect for Ian Poulter. Every time I picture him, all I see is a man dressed in pink, with spiked gel-filled hair, complaining about something. He's a so-so golfer that shows up once every two years for the Ryder Cup.

 

Perhaps I'm not giving 'proper' respect to the lad ?

 

 

 

So a World Top 50 player is just "so-so"? Tough crowd...

 

He ended 2016 (when I made this post - get with the times dude!) at 184 in the world.

 

So-so by professional standards indeed. Still further than I’ll ever make it in golf!

 

Have a great Easter weekend!

[Jordan Speeth]

Great post by the OP - it's neat to see how these guys came up in the world of Golf.

 

That being said, I have zero respect for Ian Poulter. Every time I picture him, all I see is a man dressed in pink, with spiked gel-filled hair, complaining about something. He's a so-so golfer that shows up once every two years for the Ryder Cup.

 

Perhaps I'm not giving 'proper' respect to the lad ?

 

 

 

So a World Top 50 player is just "so-so"? Tough crowd...

 

He ended 2016 (when I made this post - get with the times dude!) at 184 in the world.

 

So-so by professional standards indeed. Still further than I’ll ever make it in golf!

 

Have a great Easter weekend!

 

I had to look it up and, just for the record, in his 18 year professional career on the PGA tour, his average position in the OWGR is exactly 50th, and his best position was 11th in 2010....definitely not so so and not even close to a flash in the pan.

 

[Christosterone]

Go Ian

 

Win the US Open and send the WRX forum into a frenzy.

 

-Chris

[Christosterone]

Paired with Fleetwood today....

 

WGC will end with a Tiger/Poulter playoff that is called a tie after they go shot for shot in a record setting 70 hole playoff....

 

GolfWRX forums catch literally on fire as the playoff takes 3 days to complete...

 

-Chris

[BlackDiamondPar5]

The Jerk Store called and their running out of Ian Poulter.

[Moleman]

The Jerk Store called and their running out of Ian Poulter.

 

At least he knows that the correct way to spell the contraction of ‘they are’ is they’re and not their.?

[cardoustie]

I thought he was pretty good on Feherty

[new2g0lf]

IMO Poulter is a guy you love to hate and evokes some emotion from golf fans when he's playing which is more than I can say about 80% of the Tour players right now. He stands out, I've found myself cheering for him because he's the grinding underdog in a tournament and jeering him because he's a beast in Ryder Cup.

 

I believe one of the goals of any professional athlete is to be remembered when they leave the sport and Ian, good or bad will be remembered.

[dlygrisse]

He is the perfect antagonist in the story. Sport needs people like Ian to keep the story interesting.

Do I root for him? No. But I would dearly love to see him play in the Ryder Cup. Head to head with Patrick Reed.

[Christosterone]

I can’t not like him....

 

Something about his story that I like...

 

And his chipping/putting is purely artistic....hands of an angel

 

-Chris

[the bishop]

I can’t not like him....

 

Something about his story that I like...

 

And his chipping/putting is purely artistic....hands of an angel

 

-Chris

I like the guy unless it's Ryder Cup time. Good interview. Gives thoughtful answers to questions. I liked his attitude prior to starting play at the Bridgestone. Said he looked at his record there and saw how bad it was and said it pissed him off and he thought he should do better and then went out and did. Its not like he's a bad citizen or throwing bags of puppies in the river. That clothing line he had was pretty criminal I will admit but no one is perfect.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

The Jerk Store called and their running out of Ian Poulter.

 

At least he knows that the correct way to spell the contraction of 'they are' is they're and not their.��

Oh wow the typo police caught me. Still doesn't change the fact that IJP is an Word not allowedHat and you don't know if he knows the difference between their and they're. :)

[IVM]

With Ian Poulter what you see is what you get . He is not the only pro with a collection of fast cars but he is the only one who shows them !

He wears his heart on his sleeve and says it as it is which does not go down to well , but at least you know where you stand !

[howellhandmade]

With Ian Poulter what you see is what you get . He is not the only pro with a collection of fast cars but he is the only one who shows them !

He wears his heart on his sleeve and says it as it is which does not go down to well , but at least you know where you stand !

 

Strewth. Aphibarnrat comes to mind, with the cars and watches and whatever those shoes are. But he is not even mildly abrasive.

 

I must admire that Poulter is self-made. He didn't come from a golf academy, he was changing spikes and folding shirts when most of his tour contemporaries were enjoying their college scholarships. And I can imagine how a certain brashness either helped him through or developed in response to an environment where very few were cheering him on. But that's one of the things about sport; the most sympathetic character doesn't always win. Many sporting greats were unpopular, at least at times in their careers. It will be interesting to see how Poulter gets on through the years.