On Sunday in Marana, Arizona, Ian Poulter won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, giving him his first US victory, and moving him to number 5 in the world, a career-high for Poulter. Often more well-known for his colorful clothing line and the precise ironing of his pants than his golf, Poulter defeated Paul Casey to add this win his 8 international titles.
Poulter is often seen as little more than a flashy Englishman, with his precise clothing and exotic and expensive collection of cars. He posed naked for a magazine once, covered with only a golf bag. A little over 2 years ago he told the U.K. periodical GolfWorld that he hadn't been playing as well as he could, and that once he started rising through the ranks, it would essentially come down to him and Tiger Woods. He was ranked 22 in the world at that time.
So he made it clear, early on, that he knew how to talk the talk. By moving up to number 5 in the world he's showing that maybe he can walk the walk. To reach #2 and have golf actually come down to Poulter and Tiger, Poulter will have to surpass Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker.
Poulter managed 31 birdies in this competition, in 6 matches and 114 holes. Tiger Woods set the record of winning in 112 holes in 2003. Friday, just as the Accenture match was getting off the ground, Tiger Woods made his first public statement since crashing his SUV outside his home in November and sparking off a scandal that led to talk of infidelity, and eventually Woods' withdrawal from golf to work on his marriage.
Accenture was the first sponsor to drop Woods as a spokesman after the scandal broke, and many wondered at the timing of his statement just before the opening of the tournament. Many golfers and golf fans alike have been complaining at the lack of flash and personality on the courses since Woods' withdrawal, and have wondered if golf was going to lose ground without him playing. Golfers like Poulter seem to say that won't happen, not only with his flash and the pants he's famous for, but with excellent golf--the kind of golf that makes you number 5 in the world.
Poulter defeated fellow Englishman Paul Casey 4 and 2. Poulter controlled the day from the beginning with 2 birdies, and finished with a shot that made it close to the hole even though the ball was caked with mud, giving him a final birdie and taking chances of victory away from Casey. Casey is the first golfer to lose 2 years in a row in this match. Casey bogeyed #7, and never managed to catch up to Poulter.
Poulter's win on Sunday, with him dressed all in pink, earned him the Walter Hagen Cup and a career-high winning pot of $1.4 million. But don't mourn too hard for Casey, as he still walks away with 2nd place winnings of $850,000.
Photo Credits: proforged
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