Poulter slams American golf; Can Woods and Mickelson prove him wrong?
Fans lined up around the block to get an autograph from Ian Poulter at the Nevada Bob’s in St Andrews this week. Poulter may be popular amongst the locals but he would not be as popular with the American Tour players.
The Brit took a couple of low shots at the state of American golf when the Official World Golf Ranking No.8 was interviewed by Lawrence Donegan for an article in the Guardian UK.
“The American guys who have won all the tournaments over the past few years are getting older.” Poulter was referring to Phil Mickelson, 40, whom he believes is “strong enough” to win the Open, but it really comes down to “whether he is hungry enough.”
Poulter continued his rant on American old time talent and where he sees the future of golf.
“The talent [in America] to replace them is very young and needs a bit more experience, so we have a 15-year window. The Americans have a gap and that gap is being filled by European guys right now, guys who are in their late 20s, early 30s and who are doing the job right now.”
Does he have a point? Yes, American golf has been overshadowed in the last five years or so by the globalization of golf in which more and more foreign players are playing better and winning PGA Tour events. In the top 10 World Golf Rankings, five of the players are from the UK and Team Europe is sure to dominate at the Ryder Cup in Wales this fall.
“In five years' time we should have taken a few majors. I don't want to put a number on it but the [English] guys that are in the top 40 in the world are all capable of winning them. It's for us to go out there and prove it, but we can certainly win one or two a year, for sure."
It’s not just the PGA whose biggest competitors are overseas players, particularly from the UK; the LPGA is seeing a surge of foreign players, most dominantly from South Korea. Paula Creamer won the US Women’s Open, the first time an American has won the championship in a while.
Poulter once declared he would be the main challenger to Tiger Woods, and sincerely meant it. Poulter has gotten better over the years and Woods’s game has degraded, so it's possible Poulter will get the opportunity. Poulter is ranked in the top 10 and has the attitude of someone gunning for the title: All or nothing.
"I haven't spoken to the Americans lately but they're not going to be happy, are they?” he jested about his interview. It’s entirely possible Poulter’s arrogance will come back and haunt him Sunday when the Open champion is crowned. That would be embarrassing.
Mickelson isn’t taking Poulter’s criticisms too seriously. The native Californian assures he has the “hunger” to collect another Major in his 40s. Mickelson won his first major last year at August when he was 39. If Tom Watson or Jack Nicklaus are any indication, age is no deterrent. Mickelson was not angry with the 34-year-old Englishman, and declined that there was a rivalry between the two.
“I like Ian, I think he's a good guy...I love his clothes, I think that they're stylish and fun. I think they look great on him. I compliment him all the time. We get along well and we've had a lot of fun in the Ryder Cups playing against each other, and we have some good fun out on Tour. I just think Ian is a good guy, so I don't know what else to say."
Mickelson was not at a loss for words when it came to his long-lasting battle for Woods’ No.1 spot.
"If I were to accomplish [it] in my career, and I have some chances here, it would be something – whether it was for one week or a month or a year, however long – just to be able to say you did it, especially in Tiger's era. It would be incredible.”
Mickelson plans to “get my butt in gear” this week as he expects Woods’ game to turn around on the links. If Woods or Mickelson can accomplish what they’ve set out to do this week, the British Open could be the start of a new era of American golf.
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