And the Ryder Cup star stated his reception had no affect on his opening shot being pulled throughout the widest fairway in golf and stopping just some ft away from going out of bounds.
Poulter was the primary of the 24 gamers who’ve signed as much as the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf collection to tee off on Thursday and a handful of spectators might be heard booing as the bulk applauded.
Ian Poulter insisted he didn’t hear the boos which greeted him on the primary tee of the one hundred and fiftieth Open.
“I’ve by no means heard him being booed earlier than, I’m wondering what he’s achieved unsuitable,” former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance, commentating on the world TV feed, stated.
Poulter went on to make par on the primary and holed an unbelievable eagle putt from round 150 ft throughout the ninth inexperienced on his solution to a three-under-par 69.
“Didn’t hear one,” Poulter stated when requested concerning the boos. “I really thought I had an excellent reception on the primary tee, to be sincere. All I heard was clapping.
“I believed there was a few thousand (spectators) on the tee. In order that they clearly drowned out the one.”
The motion at St Andrews had obtained beneath means lower than 24 hours after R&A chief government Martin Slumbers had stated banning LIV Golf rebels from subsequent 12 months’s Open was “not on the agenda”, however that entry standards might be modified.
In a surprisingly strongly-worded assertion earlier than taking questions in his conventional pre-Open press convention, Slumbers stated the Saudi-funded breakaway was “fully pushed by cash” and never within the “greatest long-term pursuits of the sport”.
“Purposely haven’t checked out all,” Poulter stated when requested for his response. “So I don’t wish to know. You may inform me, I’m not going to hear. I’m right here to play golf.
“This might in all probability be my final Open Championship at St Andrews so I’m making an attempt to get pleasure from it regardless of the questioning.
“I’m staying out of the best way. I’m not studying social media. I simply wish to play golf, proper? I can solely do my job. If I take heed to numerous nonsense, then I’m going to get distracted. I don’t play golf very effectively distracted, so separating myself away from that this week has clearly been factor.”
Tiger Woods accused LIV gamers of “turning their backs” on the PGA Tour throughout his pre-tournament press convention and the likes of Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas have spoken out strongly in defence of the institution.
“Even the individuals which were vocal have been fairly respectable to me,” Poulter added. “So whether or not they settle for that I’m an previous fart or not and let him go about his merry enterprise the best way he does, I don’t know. I’ve solely had good feedback.
“Even Thomas Bjorn, of all individuals. Thomas is Thomas. He’s extraordinarily vocal. We disagree, however we’re associates, proper?”
