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Poulter in photographer fury
Englishman vows not to return to French Open
Last updated: 6th July 2009 
Poulter: furious
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A livid Ian Poulter vowed not to return to the French Open next year after being disturbed by press photographer during his final round on Sunday.
Poulter eventually finished in third at Le Golf National, three shots behind Lee Westwood and eventual winner Martin Kaymer.
However, he was left furious when, at the 15th hole and still with an outside chance of catching the leaders, he pushed his approach into the water, resulting in a bogey-five.
He blamed the lapse on a photographer some 25 yards away clicking his camera three times on his downswing and was still fuming as he bogeyed the last.
His mood did not improve having stepped off the course and he insisted he would not compete at the tournament next season because of the incident.
"It's frustrating when you get a novice cameraman out here this week," he blasted. "It spoils the day, spoils the tournament.
"It's one I want to win and some stupid cameraman makes it difficult for you.
"It's a good tournament, but I won't be back next year.
"He's trying to mess with our livelihoods. I'm playing for world ranking points and then you get some idiot. I've played here loads of times and I fight with them every year.
"It's so frustrating that they are let in. The spectators were magnificent, awesome and he ruins the whole week.
"What are you going to do? I'm going to take the tournament off my schedule."
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Comments (28)
Richard Haughton says...
At this level in the game the tension and concentration is unbelievable, we have all made excuses when we make a bad shot, but if you are distracted the other player usually apologies. Ian your most effective reply is to go back next year and win. Nothing is more powerful than success. Please keep on entertaining us with your superb golf.
Posted 07:45 2nd August 2009
S W says...
i do not agree with poulter, number one he always tries to make a scene and advertise himself, and secondly if a sport wants to open itself up to public view they have to accept these things happening.
Posted 13:31 26th July 2009
Gary Evans says...
Whilst I am 100% in agreement with Poults on his thoughts of the cameraman, it would be a tragedy to allow some idiot to stop Poults from returning next year. Come Poults, show a little perspective, thousands come to watch you, its a great course, plenty of money to be won and you were probably paid to be there too...so one guy makes a mistake, let's not let the world collapse over one guy eh!
Posted 18:12 13th July 2009
Tom Burton says...
You lot obviously don't play golf at a high enough level, there was a lot of money involved. Golf is his job, just like your jobs and you don't want anything to put you off. People should respect that and dont take photographs when it says "DON'T TAKE PHOTOS". Think about it! Also you lot going on about the way he dresses, his hair and everything, he does it because he's got a personality, the rest of the pros don't, Poults can have laugh! Good luck Poults for the future!!!
Posted 11:45 13th July 2009
Matthew Leader says...
I doubt very much Mr Poulter would have behaved in the way he did if his shot ended up close to the pin even if he did hear it in his downswing. Pure fact of the matter is that he is blaming someone other than himself. He hit no one else. I thought these top golfers 'in the zone' would be able to block out all around them in the heat of tournament golf, after all they employ mind coaches these days etc etc.. we can bang on about this topic and MONTYS next rant forever and ever simple fact is they hit the shot no-one else.
Posted 01:07 13th July 2009
Crofter Crofty says...
Well if this incident had happened at next weeks Open would Poulter have claimed that he would never play that event again because he was putt of by a photographer!! Seems he was very happy to come and take some Euros from the French Open but was just as happy to slate the very same tournament in the same breath. I think Poulter is getting far too big for his boots and should go back to the USA where he will make a comfortable living being a journeyman Pro ...
Posted 18:30 12th July 2009
Albert Gribble says...
Surely by the time he registered the 'click' he would have already made contact with the ball? The fact is, he pushed a shot 15 feet right of a dangerously-positioned hole when he ought to have aimed 15 feet left of it (i.e. he's 10 YARDS off line with a wedge in hand). That's just a bad shot... but of course, it's not his fault. Never is.
Posted 19:52 10th July 2009
Gary Wood says...
sorry but i think poulter is and has punched above his weight for a long time ... if and when he does actually win anything of great importance then start talking the talk ... but to blame a cameraman for what was clearly a terrible shot,is shocking ... maybe best keep your head down ian and look at the ball when your stricking it ... basics lad basics
Posted 21:21 8th July 2009
Liam Mccarthy says...
Hes dead right its his lively hood and how much money did that dopey photographer cost him.
Posted 22:19 7th July 2009
Bob Amadio says...
Poulter is an amazing golfer and you all sit their and criticize him because he has different hair, look around half the players on the tour dress louder then Poulter. Go play in a tournament and then you can criticize him or any golfer, even Tiger gets upset when he hears something but no one says Tiger is just looking for attention.
Posted 22:06 7th July 2009
Harry Stewart says...
all flash and no brains
Posted 21:34 7th July 2009
David Harrop says...
thought mobile phones/cameras were barred to prevent unexpected distractions occurrring at a critical moment causing problems for the players, this idiot together with those writers think his refusal to obey the rules is ok should be barred from attending future events, Poulter should have thrown his camera in the water and said I hope that didn`t spoil YOUR day or cost you any money.
Posted 20:49 7th July 2009
John Halliday says...
poulter is no where near the golfer he thinks he is or will ever be. one good finish in the open and now he thinks he rules the game. if this had been monty everyone would be on his bak saying he is out of order. poulter should focus on improving his golf before blaming other people.
Posted 18:23 7th July 2009
Marcus Parry says...
Talk about spiting your dummy out , some one should stop him mixing with monty and when he said he didnt play the US open because it didnt suit his game well are you a pro or not???
Posted 13:32 7th July 2009
John Shields says...
Poulter is just an attention seeker. What with his attire, hair and everything else, he suffers from the "look at me, I'm fantastic" disease. You dont hear players complaining at Old Trafford that they missed the target because 70,000 fans all shouted do you. So just accept Poulter that you mishit the shot and be honest, because thats what the game of golf is based upon, whether your a pro or a hacker.
Posted 12:30 7th July 2009
Stewart Cronin says...
IT is about time that this guy is told to shut up and get a life, he is a disgrace to tho the tour, having pulled out of Singapore last year because someone nicked his driver and now this. He has no right to speak to anyone like that, but that is his ego. He deserves to be fined, I cant believe that there is not a bigger fuss over this. He should keep on convincing himself that he will be world number 2,
Posted 17:38 6th July 2009
Oliver Chettle says...
"Novice" cameraman? How does he think cameramen get experience? He was a novice golfer once, and I'm guessing that his conduct wasn't always great back then, because it isn't great even now, when he has lots of experience.
Posted 17:03 6th July 2009
Oliver Chettle says...
For at least the third time this season Mr Poulter is behaving like a spoilt brat. He needs to grow up and realise that he has obligations to the fans because they are ultimately responsible for his ability to make an enormous income. None of the fans who were planning to buy tickets for next year's tournament were responsible for this incident, so why punish them? Perhaps the fans should all get together and announce that they will boycott any tournament he plays in. That would make him stop and think about his conduct, because his appearance fees and endorsements would dry up.
Posted 16:58 6th July 2009
Austin Burns says...
Having watched the tennis yesterday ,,,,,,The distractions for the players were immense ....the tennis ball travelling at over 120mph the oos and arrs from the crowd at every close return indicates to me that some golfers should be prepared to accept that it is a spectator sport and distractions are part of it......i like the style that Ian brings to the game and how cool he appears to bem, but not this time eh...come on win as major and we will all agree with you ..... i
Posted 15:40 6th July 2009
James Mclean says...
Anybody who attends golf tournaments are / should be aware of the basic rules including no mobile phones, no camera's. Very, very simple! Whether it be about money or rankings is irrelevant, he has every right to be upset and in doing so raises the issue to concerned authorities to ensure better control in future tournaments.
Posted 13:58 6th July 2009