Cover story unfolds
Quote bares poor image of Poulter
Ian Poulter feels some regret.
The most daring, provocative, courageous cover photo -- perhaps in the history of golf -- was lost in the context of a few words.
"But the problem is I haven't played to my full potential yet," Poulter told Golf World (UK). "And when that happens it will just be me and Tiger."
Suddenly Poulter was treated as the emperor who had no clothes by the world press, few of whom had even bothered to read the entire story to understand the context of the statement.
For a man who relishes style as much as substance, it was a pity.
"It absolutely got forgotten about," Poulter said of his baring all behind a strategically placed golf bag on the cover of the magazine. "Nothing has been said about that because it's all been said about the couple of comments that the papers picked up on."
Poulter could handle any abuse that comes with taking a fashion (or lack thereof) risk. After all, he's opened himself to plenty of ridicule with outfits that range from head-to-toe pink to rhinestone-studded. He can dish it back as well as he can take it.
"It's fun," he said. "Let's not be boring. Let's make it cool."
What's not cool is being roundly ripped for being misunderstood. The text of a three-hour interview got whittled down in the public consciousness to two lines mistaken as a challenge to Tiger Woods and an affront to every other golfer on the planet.
"The Golf Channel slams me up there as Poulter ... Tiger, Poulter ... Tiger," he said. "Look, he's won nothing and he's won 84 tournaments."
His words were thrown back at him like an ambush when Poulter and Woods turned up to play in Dubai.
"I'm telling you, the heat was on," Poulter said. "Every English paper had it back page. I was made to look the alien, the idiot, the prat. However many phrases you wanted to call me. ... It's very upsetting to be under that much pressure and scrutiny when you really have answered a question quite honestly and respectfully."
That's what bugs Poulter the most. He was lumped into the same doghouse of players who have supposedly dissed Woods, when Poulter was really only challenging himself to work for a mention in the same company as the undisputed best player in the world.
"I put him up on a pedestal and said I want to be here," Poulter said, moving his hand a rung lower to illustrate the spot below Woods. "When you look at No. 2 and No. 1,000, that's where he is to Phil Mickelson. So put him up on that pedestal which he deservedly earns.
"I'm talking about that No. 2 spot. And if people work hard and fulfill their potential and play good on a two-year basis, they can achieve and get to their dream. And their dream will be to be able to sit there behind Tiger Woods -- he's No. 1 and you're No. 2. That's where it comes 'Tiger Woods and then me.' "
The full context makes sense. Woods seems to get it, ribbing Poulter by calling out to him "Hey, No. 2" while Poulter responds "Hey, No. 1."
"It's funny between us," he said. "It's friendly, boyish banter. That's what makes this game fun."
But Poulter still has to crawl out from under the public misinterpretation.
"I probably could have done a lot better in phrasing it," he admits. "If you shorten it, that sounds a bit dodgy. That's not how it was meant. It was meant as a compliment and a challenge. I'm not happy with being No. 24 in the world. I want to test myself and be as good as I possibly can."
Poulter doesn't plan to change his stripes and plaids just to conform with everyone else. His candor is as refreshing as his wardrobe.
But he understands why some players prefer to keep a low profile, particularly when it comes to making any comments involving the world's No. 1 player.
"I got burned for a throwaway comment or something that wasn't taken in the spirit," he said. "If you keep getting burned you won't talk. That's not good because I enjoy talking to you guys. It's a lot more interesting than sitting in a pro shop selling tee pegs and Mars bars, which is what I was doing eight years ago. It's good fun and a good life."
Whether Poulter has the courage to strip himself again for all to see is unlikely. He's been there and done that in his quest to inject life into an often-staid sport.
"I've always done different stuff," he said. "I find it fun and interesting. It's not about being the norm. There's 155 guys out here every week, and sometimes it's very stale when you look down the range. It's changing. Fashion is changing, and there's more characters coming into the game of golf and it's cool. It had lots of character and color back in the day. And it should have that. People on the outside should look in and see it's fun."
Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.
