Golf has walked a tightrope but it has got its act together
POULTER AT EASE WITH JOINING PGA ‘CIRCUS’
IAN POULTER thinks golf has done “an incredible job” in returning from the coronavirus lockdown and he is happy to join the “travelling circus” at the US Open in NewYork next month.
Tennis stars Rafa Nadal, right, and Simona Halep will miss the US Open in the Big Apple for fear of Covid-19.
And the first six events back on the PGA Tour produced nine positive tests among players and caddies while Alex Levy last week failed a test on the European Tour.
But Florida-based Poulter, who is playing at the Northern Trust in Boston this week, said: “This is a travelling circus where 150 guys and 150 caddies travel to venues on a weekly basis and I think we have done an incredible job.
“The first three weeks on Tour was nothing but negativity – ‘When are we going to shut this down again’ – because there were a couple of positive tests. In the last two months, there really haven’t been many cases.
“I don’t think there has been enough praise of how well everyone has done on both tours, the PGA and European Tours, in the bubble situation we are in when other sports have struggled.
“Everybody has done their bit to have a safe environment for us all to get back to work. We are getting tested every week and we have had so few cases that I feel really happy.
“I can’t speak for tennis. I am comfortable going on the road and playing the US Open.
“My life can’t stop just because of the situation we’re in, so we’ve just got to be sensible. I’m happy to travel.”
Collin Morikawa, 23, won his first Major at his second attempt at the USPGA earlier this month, and Poulter said with a smile. “It makes me feel really old!”
But the 44-year-old, who was tied 22nd despite an opening 73 at the first Major of the season in San Francisco, said the old guard, including Tiger Woods, will still be competing for future titles.
Poulter said: “I believe I had more birdies than anyone else that week (he was tied fifth with 19) so I know I can compete with the young blood and that is exciting. “I don’t want to be irrelevant and that is obviously when your interest level will drop off – when you can’t compete on the big stage.
“Just because you are 40-plus doesn’t mean to say you are finished. “It probably means you are not in contention as much as you used to be. But when you are in contention, there is a chance you are going to win.
“When you have got your game, there is absolutely no reason why you can’t compete with the new generation of kids.”
Ian Poulter was speaking ahead of the launch of 2K’s new PGA Tour 2K21 game, which came out yesterday for PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch and Google Stadia. He is one of 12 PGA Tour pros that players can compete against to become the FedEx Cup Champion. Find out more at pgatour.2k.com