Ian Poulter throws his weight behind the Match Play format for the 2016 Olympics
The Match Play terror Englishman Ian Poulter has thrown his weight the knock-out format in the upcoming 2016 Olympics where the sport will be returning to the celebrated sports event after a lapse of around 100 years.
Poulter, known for his menacing performances in the nail-biting format, is currently locked in a one-on-one battle in the Volvo World Match Play Championship and believes Match Play format will suit the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
He said, “Most other sports are one-on-one. And that’s why I think viewers enjoy match play more. It’s more exciting and plays out better on TV. I think match play would suit the Olympics better”.
Poulter is known to have a knack for the difficult format and has won the 2010 WGC Accenture Match Play Championship and has also played well in several of the Ryder Cup episodes, guiding the European Team to a victory on several occasions.
Poulter is defending his title at the Volvo World Match Play Championship and has done well since the start of the year, finishing for an outright seventh at the Augusta National.
On question of whether the European Tour should include more Match Play events on the Calendar year, Poulter replied:
“How about every week? The more we play, the better. I love the cut-throat, face-to-face nature of it and find the buzz a refreshing change from what we play week in and week out".
For the moment, the Olympic committee has decided to schedule a Stroke Play format event over a 72-hole course in Rio in the year 2016 but is open for suggestions from the tours as well as the top-ranked players of the sport in the world.
Poulter turned professional in the year 1995 and joined the mainstream European Tour in the year 2000.
He played predominantly on the European Tour and won his first event in October 2000, the Italian Open.
He later moved to join the PGA Tour and currently plays on both sides of the Atlantic.
Winner of 15 professional events in his grizzled career, the 36-year-old Poulter has won 11 events on the European Tour and is still looking for his first major title for the moment.
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