Ian Poulter shows true colours after crazy trick shot during LIV Golf UK final round

Ian Poulter delighted his home crowd at LIV Golf UK on Sunday with a no-look birdie putt at the par-three ninth hole during the early stages of his third round. Competing on British soil for the third time since LIV’s inaugural event at Centurion two years ago, Poulter aimed to claim his first LIV title at JCB Golf and Country Club, the new host of the Saudi-backed league’s UK event in 2025.

Before the tournament, Poulter expressed that winning in front of an English crowd would mean a great deal to him, especially after struggling to recapture the form that once made him one of Europe’s top players. Despite his ambitions, Poulter found himself far from the lead after the first 36 holes. Nevertheless, he managed to entertain the fans during his third round. Starting at two-under, the former Ryder Cup star birdied his opening hole at the par-four eighth and followed it up with a stylish birdie at the ninth. His impressive tee shot set up the no-look putt, with Poulter turning his face towards the galleries as the ball rolled into the cup.

The crowd, especially those at the Majesticks Arms—a pub created for fans of Poulter’s team—enthusiastically cheered the spectacular shot. Poulter, acknowledging the support, saluted the crowd after retrieving his ball from the hole.

Earlier in the week, both Poulter and his co-captain Lee Westwood highlighted the significance of playing in front of a British crowd. Poulter mentioned, “Whenever we have the opportunity to come and play in front of home fans, and especially this week, extending the tickets to 14,000, should be awesome for us. We don’t play enough golf over here, so when we do, it’s pretty special. This is going to be a tough test this week. The golf course layout is good, but it’s going to be strong, and we’re really looking forward to the challenge.”

Westwood echoed these sentiments, adding, “Yeah, this is obviously our home event, and even more so for me, I guess, because I’m from the Midlands. I did grow up only an hour and 20 minutes away. My phone has been quite lively for the last month or so with people wanting tickets. It’ll be fun playing in front of friends and family and also people from this area in England. It’s always special to play in the UK. Golf fans are very knowledgeable. They’re great fans. I’m sure they’re looking forward to coming out and seeing some world-class golf.”

Despite Poulter’s slim chances of winning the title on Sunday, his performance in the third round brought back glimpses of his entertaining prowess, reminding fans of his skill and charisma on the golf course.