Through myriad matches and diverse opponents Ian James Poulter prevailed, defeating fellow Englishman Paul Casey to take the title at Accenture Match Play.
Some immediately proclaimed it a huge win while others brushed it off as no big deal. Poulter himself was sanguine, and satisfied with a maiden PGA Tour victory that he felt had "...been a long time coming." And having written about Ian Poulter for several years now... mainly puff pieces that revolved are porkpie hats or pink patent leather golf shoes... I had to agree with that sentiment.
Back a couple of years ago, before golf discovered social media... when the message was still largely controlled by a handful of prestigious print publications with substantial ad revenues, Ian Poulter was often ridiculed. Or at the very least, he was looked down upon as a something of a buffoon; spoiled, subversive Eurotrash... style over substance. Any on-course brush with brilliance was considered a fluke, or written off as an anomaly. And when he appeared in the altogether and proclaimed himself a possible successor to Tiger Woods, many a golf scribe became downright indignant.
That this preening, self-indulgent, slightly louche, Rod-Stewart-look-alike would compare himself to our clean cut, self-disciplined, always-above-reproach Tiger Woods was outrageous and insulting.
Flash forward two years: the golf media landscape has been transformed by the digital age and declining ad dollars, and our ever-exemplary golf champion has been exposed as a man living a lie... a rather salacious, smarmy lie at that. As for Ian James Poulter he's still strutting around like a peacock, in purple plaid and various shades of pink. ~ But at number five in the world, with a PGA Tour under his white alligator belt, most are taking him quite seriously.
Ian showed signs of possible collapse in the last six holes, but he got everything up and in.
ReplyDeleteI think 2010 might be a good year for him on this 'side of the pond'.
I was so happy to see him win. I remember the Pink Poulter cocktail was great! ;)
ReplyDeleteI never liked Ian Poulter, always found him brash and insolent, always and just not much of anything else. I have to admit I'm now seeing a different side. I think it's true that golf media is giving us a different picture but I also think he has matured as a golfer and as a person.
ReplyDeleteI still think the clothes are ridiculous. I was happy when he had to put the rain gear over that purple number.
ReplyDeleteWhen you think about it, Ian was a pioneer of sorts. Back 5 or so years ago when he started wearing "crazy" clothes was when golf attire was at its bulky, khaki and solid color dullest. He was the only one do anything different and it seemed very extreme that's not the case any more.
ReplyDeleteMany commentators have referred to Poulter's strong performance in the Ryder Cup though I feel his 2nd place in The Open Championship at Birkdale really showed his grit for the first time. On a very tough scoring day on a very tough course he ground out an excellent finish.
ReplyDeleteThis WGC breakthough has now really put him in with a great chance of a Major sooner rather than later.
It is great to see him brreak through with a victory. He truly has the skills to back up his image.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I find it refreshing to see an athlete willing to break from the vanilla PR script and image. He speaks his mind, and rarely falls into the generic responses so comon from Tiger, Phil, and most heavily sponsored athletes. Is he rude? NO...he just doesn't give every reporter a perfect soundbite and quote....he actually answers questions.
He has the game...let's hope the confidence of this victory will put him in contention again soon.
Clearly Poulter's a big influence on Ryo-kun and Rickie!
ReplyDeletePatience should has no limits and always in heart. Great blog, I added u in my link list, would u add me too. Thanx
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