Poulter On Abusive Fans: "Idiots That Can't Handle A Couple Of Beers'

The Englishman was verbally abused by the fans at TPC Sawgrass during the Players Championship

Poulter On Abusive Fans
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Englishman was verbally abused by the fans at TPC Sawgrass during the Players Championship

Poulter On Abusive Fans: "Idiots That Can't Handle A Couple Of Beers'

Ian Poulter, not for the first time, has spoken out on the abusive behaviour from fans on the PGA Tour.

The crowds were rowdy last week at TPC Sawgrass for the Players Championship and Ian Poulter was subject to some abuse from what he described as "idiots that can't handle a couple of beers."

The European Ryder Cup hero was playing his final round at Sawgrass alongside Brian Gay who actually apologised to the Englishman for the crowd's behaviour.

Poulter wrote on Instagram after his final round, "Really feel sad for my kids who had to walk around today listening to fans who were non stop verbally abusing today.

"Real shame in this day an age we still have a few idiots that can’t handle a couple of beers. Oh well remember the good times #havesomerespect #itsjustagame.

"It wouldn’t happen at Augusta...

"Sad when your playing partner apologizes about the fans.."

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This isn't the first time Poults has complained about fan behaviour on the PGA Tour.

At last year's US Open at Shinnecock Hills, Poulter was verbally abused by fans, some of whom were laughing when he was missing putts and willing his ball off of the green on the slopey, extreme putting surfaces.

"Verbally abused on every hole does get a little old.. That's not really golf either," Poulter tweeted at the time.

Ryder Cup in 2024 COULD become a little silly, just like today was."

The Ryder Cup he is referring to is at Bethpage Black, also in New York like Shinnecock Hills.

Bethpage hosts this year's USPGA Championship in May, so let's hope the fan behaviour doesn't get out of hand there like it did at Shinnecock, and at Sawgrass last week.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV