Ian Poulter takes dig at PGA Tour star after admitting: "I feel bad for Rory"
Ian Poulter says he feels bad for Rory McIlroy as the LIV Golf pro aimed a not-so-subtle dig at American PGA Tour star Billy Horschel.
Ian Poulter says he feels bad for Rory McIlroy as he aimed a subtle dig at PGA Tour star Billy Horschel.
Poulter and a host of European Ryder Cup legends were once firmly in McIlroy's crosshairs after they joined LIV Golf.
At the height of the feud, McIlroy said he felt betrayed by the likes of Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson.
"It's an unfamiliar feeling to me," Mcilroy previously said. "You build bonds with these people through Ryder Cups and other things."
McIlroy said he could never be willing to jeopardise his future in the blue and gold. "I thought they felt the same way," he added.
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How times change and McIlroy's stance on the Saudi Arabia-backed tour has softened significantly.
In his most recent press conference before the Cognizant Classic at The Palm Beaches, he suggested he could one day join LIV.
Although he also joked that should he win the Masters he would immediately retire. Who knows what future is in store for McIlroy.
It was at the turn of the year that McIlroy admitted that he was far too judgemental of the likes of Poulter.
"I think it was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realise that not everyone is in my position or in Tiger Woods' position," he said.
"We all turn professional to make a living playing the sports that we do, and I think that's what I've realised over the last two years.
"I can't judge people for making that decision, so if I regret anything, it was probably being too judgemental at the start."
It's no secret McIlroy's friendship with the aforementioned Garcia was damaged owing to the divide in the men's game.
McIlroy told of how he once woke up to receive a barrage of expletive-laden text messages from the Spaniard.
"I sent him back a few daggers of my own," McIlroy previously explained before the duo buried the hatchet.
And Poulter has expressed some sympathy for McIlroy ahead of LIV Golf Jeddah.
"I feel bad for Rory," he told Gulf News.
He added:
Poulter continued: "When you're going to speak out against something yet demand a certain amount of money to move across and then you didn't, but bash the product, you better be careful."
His comment was likely a jibe towards American Horschel.
Like McIlroy, Horschel has strongly criticised the rival league and their players.
Poulter previously claimed the American asked for $45m to join LIV, though this claim hasn't been substantiated.
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