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 played in the Masters in 2021 and it was his 16th appearance in the tournament, recording three top-ten finishes, as well as nine top-25 finishes in that time. "For clarity I will not be playing The Masters this year," Poulter said on social media.
"I was invited to play by a member and it was in incredible condition. I last played the tournament in 2021. And that will be my last competitive Masters. I had a chance in 2019 and came up short. I have no regrets at all. I had 9 Top 25 finishes in the 16 I played. Only missed the cut once. It’s a truly special place."
Poulter has been a part of the breakaway Saudi-backed rebel tour LIV Golf since its inception in 2022. The Ryder Cup legend was one of a number of top golf names to flee for the rival tour. Talks continue between LIV Golf, the PGA Tour, and the DP World Tour over a future merger.
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But as far as Poulter is concerned, he has no time for LIV Golf detractors performing U-Turns. "Being two-faced is a terrible trait," he said on social media earlier this year. "I'd be embarrassed having to change my story now and come out and try and look smart. I'm happy to sit down and have it out. I will happily say it as it is. Enough of the b*******."
PGA loyalist Rory McIlroy, who will compete at Augusta this year unlike Poulter, is one of the golf stars who was a fierce critic of LIV Golf in the start, only to slowly backtrack and accept the tour as part of the sport's future.
"I think at this point, I was maybe a little judgmental of the guys who went to LIV golf at the start, and I think it was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realise that not everyone is in my position or in Tiger Wood’s position," McIlroy conceded.
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"We all turn professionals to making a living playing the sports that we do, and I think that’s what I realised over the last two years. I can’t judge people for making that decision, so if I regret anything, it was probably being too judgmental at the start.”
McIlroy added: "I’ve gone through the last two years with this altruistic approach where I’ve looked at the world the way I’ve wanted to see it.
"Ultimately, you can say what you want and do what you want, but at the end of the day, you’re not going to be able to change people’s minds. You’re never going to make them decide based on what you say. I wouldn’t say I’ve lost the fight against LIV, but I’ve just accepted the fact that this is part of our sport now.”