British golfer Ian Poulter took aim at American fans just days before the Ryder Cup, describing their behavior as “embarrassing stupidity.”
“I don’t even know where to start,” Poulter, 49, said in an interview with SportBible on Wednesday September 24. “I mean, ‘f***ing ‘mashed potato’ and all that bulls*** you hear is madness. ‘In the hole! Get in the hole!’ It’s a 600-yard par 5, you f***ing idiot.”
He even joked about stronger measures for hecklers on the golf course.
“I actually just want to borrow the taser [from] the security guard, just to let one go per hole would be amazing,” Poulter joked. “Imagine that, you got one taser per hole. That’d be awesome. That’d go right between the eyes. Have it.”
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For Poulter, the behavior of some American golf fans sometimes goes beyond good-natured ribbing.
“It’s not heckling,” he argued. “It’s just complete and utter embarrassing stupidity. We don’t get that at The Open Championship … It’s only in America the stupidness comes out. It’s just so annoying. Our fans are very respectful! I’m not dissing all American fans, but f*** them!”
Poulter who built his reputation on fiery performances and animated celebrations, added, “I’m not completely dissing the American fans because the atmosphere in America is amazing.”
Poulter’s comments added fuel to an already charged week. The Ryder Cup, which began Friday, September 26, at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, is notorious for its intense crowds.
European captain Luke Donald has reportedly prepared his players for the environment by simulating crowd noise during practice sessions through the use of VR headsets.
European players have already been bracing for what’s coming and said as much during their pre-match press conference on Wednesday, September 24th.
Tommy Fleetwood noted that the only way to deal with the “extreme atmosphere” is to embrace it, while Jon Rahm said fans in New York can come up with chants and heckles that no training exercise can replicate.
Matt Fitzpatrick has already been teased during practice with shouts of, “The green’s that way,” while American star Collin Morikawa encouraged U.S. fans to “bring chaos” when play begins.
Rory McIlroy, one of Europe’s leaders, was heckled while adjusting his shirt on the tee box during practice on Thursday, September 25. A U.S. fan shouted, “You don’t need a button to choke, Rory!”
McIlroy and the rest of the Team Europe crew took it well, laughing at the fan and giving him props for a good joke.
Although Poulter is not part of this year’s team after joining LIV Golf in 2022, his words resonate because of his Ryder Cup legacy.
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Over seven appearances, he became one of Europe’s most feared and celebrated players, earning the nickname “The Postman” for always delivering crucial points.
The rivalry between the U.S. and Europe has long thrived on crowd energy, but Poulter’s blunt assessment is sure to keep the spotlight on the galleries as much as the golf itself.
Whether fans tone it down or double down when play starts, his rant has ensured that the atmosphere at Bethpage Black will be one of the biggest storylines of the week.
The Ryder Cup continues this weekend before competition wraps up on Sunday, September, 28.
