Golf: Ian Poulter Tweets remorse over playing in Doha
The flamboyant Englishman Ian Poulter wishes he were not a part of the Qatar Masters field owing to the prevailing inclement weather.
The world number 12 Tweeted on Thursday after composing a round at par, “Feels like I've been a punch bag for (Floyd) May weather today. Shame I'm not at the Phoenix Open - I've got 10 mates there for three days on a stag weekend, then they're off to Vegas.”
The 132-man field faced a tough challenge in the first round of the tournament. According to the official website of the European Tour, the wind blew at 30mph from south to north. Doha Golf Club is located on a desert and its layup is positioned facing south.
This means all the players had to tee off against the wind.
The winner of the USB Hong Kong Open teed from the front and managed a birdie at the opening hole. Eight other players scored a birdie on the same hole excluding a duo who smashed eagles.
After composing the first birdie of the tournament, Poulter smashed another one after a gap of three greens. Owing to the mounting confidence, he drove a tee shot towards the left of the fairway, but the ball cut short and dropped in the middle, resulting
in a bogey.
However, Poulter quickly countered off the early set back by smashing another birdie on the par-4 seventh hole. He wrapped the front nine with one more point and a score of three-under-par 33.
The actual trouble started on the back nine, where the wind reduced the game play to almost zero. Poulter tried his luck on the irons as they are the ideal equipment against the wind but instead landed in trouble.
The Englishman ironed his tee shot on the tenth tee, which went safely on the landing area in the start, but rolled into a bunker on the left. He then pulled out a sand wedge to make his way out and reached the green in three shots but failed to save the
par.
As the wind grew stronger, Poulter reduced his attempts on the birdie to avoid the trouble. Despite that, he carved two more on later holes and surrendered at a score of 72.
After reaching the clubhouse, Poulter Tweeted and expressed his remorse for choosing the desert swing over the Phoenix Open.
Tags: