Ian Poulter has told Sky Sports that his controversial quotes about Tiger Woods were taken completely out of context.
Irate Poulter sets the record straight over controversial quotes
Ian Poulter has told
Sky Sports that his controversial quotes about Tiger Woods were taken completely out of context.
In the March edition of
Golf World, Poulter was quoted as saying: "The trouble is I don't rate anyone else. Don't get me wrong, I respect everyone who is a professional. But the problem is I haven't played to my full potential yet. And when that happens it will just be me and Tiger."
Unsurprisingly the article caused huge controversy ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic in which both Poulter and Woods are playing this week.
However, upon completing his first round in Dubai, a clearly irate Poulter attempted to set the record straight insisting he had not intended to cause any offence.
When questioned about his statements, he told
Sky Sports: "That is actually a misquote that I'd like to clear up very quickly.
"The question was asked where do I see myself and could I get to number one in the world. My answer to that question was; 'As long as Tiger Woods is playing golf, I can't get to number one in the world and nor can many other players. And quite frankly, if I do fulfil my potential I do believe the gap between me and second is achievable, so therefore I do have a chance of getting second in the world if I work hard and fulfil my potential'.
"Therefore, the comment was; 'It would be a dream to sit back one day and look at the world rankings and see it say, Tiger Woods and then me'.
"Well if you shorten that phrase down, 'Tiger Woods and then me', you get what you've got in the paper today, or the magazine.
Misquoted
"I think it's very harsh when you quite honestly answer a simple question, honestly, respectfully, respectfully to other golfers and it gets misquoted.
"You're left with a very frustrating situation like this morning when you're called many things in the newspaper and its very difficult to go out on the golf course and play golf when stuff like that has been taken out of context.
"But I'm a big boy, I can take it. It's a shame for it to happen that way but I answered a very normal question which I thought I answered respectfully and unfortunately it's been shortened down and when it's been shortened down it looks disrespectful - but that totally wasn't the case.
"It's a great shame, but if people do do that and the press want to do that then you're left in an unfortunate situation with egg on your face and I think that's very sad."
On the claims that he didn't "rate" any player in the world besides Woods, he added: "That also was answered not in a few words, but probably in a minute's quote in to say that Tiger Woods is so far ahead of everyone else, to look at everyone else you have to look at Tiger Woods.
"If you want to achieve more in golf and play better golf you look at one person and he is so good and so far ahead you look back at everyone else.
Disrespectful
"It's not disrespectful to turn around and say you don't rate anyone else, I look at Tiger Woods as number one in the world and I want to get as close as I possibly can.
"As long as he's playing golf I'm not going to get to number one, so number two is the spot.
"What I said was obviously not meant as I don't rate anyone else, there's world class golfers everywhere and I play against them week in, week out. Again, that's been taken out of context and put on paper in a shortened version of how I explained it.
"It's very frustrating, what more can I say. It's a quote-unquote that's not come out as I explained it in the first place which is unfortunate when you let people in your house for three hours and you do a nice private interview and this is what happens."
