Ian Poulter receives BOOS on first tee at BMW PGA Championship
Ian Poulter received a mixture of boos and cheers on the first tee in the first round of the BMW PGA Championship in a controversial week in Surrey.
LIV Golf player and European stalwart Ian Poulter received both loud boos and supportive cheers on the first tee in the first round of the BMW PGA Championship.
Teeing it up with Aaron Rai and Jason Scrivener on the first day on the West Course, the Englishman was both supported and discouraged by fans in the stand and around the tee box.
It has been a BMW PGA Championship like no other so far. Boos are only heard in the golf sphere at the Ryder Cup but this aside, the tension and awkwardness amongst certain players are clear to see.
Poulter was filmed having a heated debate with defending BMW PGA champion Billy Horschel on the putting green on Wednesday. Although it is unclear what they were discussing, we can all have a decent guess.
An even mixture of boos and cheers for Ian Poulter on the first tee at Wentworth… pic.twitter.com/RMfh3M6U2G
— Matt Chivers (@mgchivers) September 8, 2022
Billy Horschel maintained that he still has relationships with the likes of Poulter, Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell, but he named Abraham Ancer, Talor Gooch and Jason Kokrak as players who shouldn't be playing at Virginia Water.
Kokrak has since withdrawn as has Martin Kaymer. The German has played in three Ryder Cups alongside Poulter and they form the European core who have swapped sides to LIV Golf.
Despite the list of plaintiffs filing an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour decreasing by the week, Poulter's name remains alongside six others including Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau.
He was also one of the players who were suspended from three events earlier this summer and fined $100,000. However, Poulter was still allowed to play in the Genesis Scottish Open as legal proceedings regarding the suspensions and fines continue.
Some players have been accused of subsidising the gaps in their schedules on the DP World Tour. Poulter played in the D+D Real Czech Masters last month which was his first appearance exclusively on the DP World Tour since January.
