Poulter pays penalty after abusing ball-spotter

IAN POULTER got the message loud and clear.

You cannot abuse a spectator, especially a volunteer, during a European Tour event and hope to get away with it.

The colourful and often volatile Englishman lost the head sufficiently during the Nissan Irish Open at Carton House to tell a ball-spotter that he might like to “eff off out of here.”

Little was made of the incident at the time because the individual involved preferred to let the matter rest.

Whether Poulter felt sure his behaviour would become public knowledge or because he felt genuine remorse, the Englishman informed European Tour chief executive George O’Grady of the incident and was so contrite he even suggested what the fine should be.

O’Grady declined to reveal the actual amount except to say: “it was as big as we have ever imposed”.

I understand, though, that it’s £5,000 (€7,290) and while it may make little dent on Poulter’s bank statement, it is still a reflection of the Tour’s deep annoyance at the incident.

“The fact that he made a full and sincere apology is more important to me than the fine”, said O’Grady.

“He is in the process of apologising to the chief referee and all the marshals to say how much he enjoys playing there and regretting his swear words and his attitude. He’s been fined substantially by the Tour and it was a fine, I might say, that he suggested himself.”

O’Grady went on to stress that “the volunteers support of the European Tour is the bedrock so we won’t have it.

“Ian knew he had stepped out of line and probably knew somebody was going to be on him anyway because it was a stressful week for our field staff in Ireland.”

It all happened at the 6th tee in Saturday’s delayed second round at Carton House when Poulter hooked his drive into jungle country. After a long search, the ball was eventually found in a shocking lie. Poulter immediately enquired of the onlookers if any of them had actually stood on the ball.

The answer was in the negative but Poulter still called two rules officials Jose Maria Zamora and Neil Briggs in the hope of being given some relief. None was forthcoming and it was then that a ball-spotter came forth and claimed the ball had actually bounced.

Whereupon Poulter erupted with the words that have now cost him a cool five grand.