LIV Golf has misplaced one among its staunchest supporters as England’s Ian Poulter introduced Friday that he won’t signal on for LIV 2.0.
Poulter, 50, mentioned he made the choice after discussing his taking part in future along with his household and crew.
“Finally, the chance to spend extra time at residence with my household, scale back worldwide journey, deal with senior golf and have the chance to pursue different pursuits was one thing that I felt was proper for me at this stage of my life and profession,” Poulter mentioned in an Instagram put up.
Poulter was among the many first gamers to signal with LIV Golf at its inception in 2022. He and countryman Lee Westwood have been two of probably the most outspoken supporters of the Saudi-backed league, which has been accused by many critics of dividing the skilled golf world.
Poulter and Westwood served because the co-captains of the all-English Majesticks GC that included Laurie Canter and Sam Horsfield for the 2026 season. Majesticks completed twelfth within the 13-team league.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund introduced earlier this 12 months that it will finish its monetary assist of LIV Golf. CEO Scott O’Neil has lined up funding for LIV 2.0 because the league goes by means of Chapter 11 chapter proceedings, with plans to play a 10-event schedule in 2027 that features 5 occasions in the USA and 5 internationally.
Nevertheless, Poulter joins a rising listing of gamers who won’t return that features Spaniards Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia and David Puig, in addition to Abraham Ancer, Charles Howell III, Adrian Meronk, Louis Oosthuizen and Thomas Pieters. Different marquee names, together with Bryson DeChambeau, Cam Smith and Joaquin Niemann, haven’t declared what they intend to do by Sunday’s registration deadline.
“Clearly, LIV Golf has divided opinion,” Poulter wrote. “However to be a part of the founding group that took world class golf across the globe, showcased our nice sport to a brand new viewers, constructed a crew model in Majesticks GC, helped innovate event codecs and set up a number one neighborhood affect program in Little Sticks, is one thing I will likely be without end happy with. And that is simply scratching the floor of what we achieved collectively.
“Change is rarely straightforward and it is truthful to say skilled golf has skilled loads of it over the previous few years. However I’ve all the time believed that change can create alternative and in the end result in optimistic outcomes. There’ll undoubtedly be extra adjustments forward, however I’m assured the sport will proceed to develop, evolve, and ship the perfect for golf followers world wide.”
Poulter will doubtless have to serve a one-year suspension from the date of his most up-to-date LIV occasion earlier than being eligible to play on the Champions Tour, much like former LIV participant Henrik Stenson, who made his Champions debut earlier this 12 months.
The DP World Tour has additionally introduced it won’t grant membership to LIV Golf gamers in 2027, which Poulter wants so as to be eligible to be a Ryder Cup captain or vice captain for Europe sooner or later.
In the meantime, Poulter’s eldest son, Luke, 22, performs golf for the College of Florida and has competed within the Walker Cup. Joshua Poulter, 14, is his youngest son. Ian and his spouse, Katie, even have two daughters.
He mentioned he plans to dedicate extra time to serving to Luke and Joshua of their golf pursuits and likewise rising his YouTube channel.
“I am genuinely enthusiastic about this subsequent chapter. I am trying ahead to spending extra time with my household, persevering with to develop The Postman YouTube channel, sharing extra of my life, golf, experiences and competing in some senior occasions,” Poulter wrote. “One thing I’m additionally significantly trying ahead to is having the ability to spend extra time serving to Luke as he pursues his profession in skilled golf, and Joshua as he seems to develop as a golfer in his teenage years. Having spent so a few years travelling the world chasing my very own {golfing} goals, the chance to now spend extra time supporting my boys as they chase theirs is one thing which means a terrific deal to me.
“In any case these years, golf has given me a lot, and I am enthusiastic about what lies forward, each on and off the course. Thanks once more to everybody who has been a part of the journey thus far! We actually aren’t executed but!”
–Subject Degree Media
