Ian Poulter fired back at NBC golf analyst Johnny Miller who criticized how long Poulter was taking to set up his shots over the weekend.
Play at the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Maui, was cancelled three straight days because of strong winds. Poulter was among those who wanted golfers to tough it out despite the harsh winds.
“We need to try to put the show on,” Ian Poulter said at first. “Hyundai spent a lot of money. We want to play. Fans want to see us play. TV wants to see us play. We’re backed into a corner. I don’t think they understand how windy it really is. Now they’ve seen it.
“This is going to be crazy golf. You’ve just got to suck it up,” Poulter said via Reuters.
Though Poulter wanted to tough it out, he found golfing in those conditions to be extremely difficult. He had to back away six times on a 10-foot putt on the 11th hole Sunday, which irked Miller and Dan Hicks:
“He surely doesn’t have the Tom Watson attitude so far,” said Miller. “He’s afraid he’s going to hurt himself, probably set back the game 20 years. … He’s just taking way too much time. He’s being fairly dramatic here.”
Hicks shared similar thoughts.
“You have to give in to the conditions and the whole scene here to a degree or you’re going to drive yourself crazy trying to get set perfectly…”
Word of Miller and Hicks’ criticism got back to Poulter, who fired back via his Twitter account.
Johnny miller why don’t you come interview me live and say that stuff straight to my face…… Was you watching a different channel.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) January 6, 2013
Poulter continued to defend himself a few hours later.
Just watched coverage on @golfchannel. Really sorry I took way to long on 11th…. Just trying to win a golf tournament. Trying to do my job
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) January 7, 2013
Oh thats was why i was taking a while. Ben Curtis had a 40ft putt then it blows 15ft off the green into the rough. Then 4 putts that hole.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) January 7, 2013
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. It’s hilarious listening & watching the replay from earlier. Sorry for being dramatic… Hahahaha really.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) January 7, 2013
We have to side with Poulter on this one. The conditions in Maui were miserable, but at least he and others were trying to play through it. And how can you bash a guy for trying to do his best at all times? That’s not being “dramatic,” that’s trying to be successful.
Golf clap to Eye on Golf
