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New York Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Watching Ian and Luke Poulter turn rivals for a day – with a place at The Open on the line
Living up to your father's name is one thing — competing against him to do it is another. That was the challenge faced by amateur golfer Luke Poulter, the 21-year-old son of 2008 Open runner-up and five-time Ryder Cup winner Ian Poulter, as both looked to secure one of the five Open qualifying spots on offer at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club. The 36-hole single-day event in Kent, south-east England, was one of four last-gasp qualifying events taking place around the United Kingdom on Tuesday. Advertisement Sadly for the Poulter dynasty, both fell short of booking a place at the main event which begins in Portrush, Northern Ireland on July 17. Like father, like son, they carded identical one-under-par scores — three shots behind Norway's John Axelsen, who claimed the fifth and final qualifying spot. But the pair drew positives amid the disappointment, and Ian could not disguise his pride. 'Luke's turned into a really good golfer,' said the former world number five, adding that if he 'keeps doing what he's doing' a major berth will be his before too long. Luke, for his part, started strongly and was third on the leaderboard after the first 18. Although he teed off just 20 minutes before his dad, the two began on opposite sides of the narrow links course. The logistics of squeezing a 72-man field through two full rounds in a single day meant players started on split tees, so Luke began on the 1st, Ian on the 10th. Despite the distance, Luke said he 'knew where he [Ian] was on the course because there'd be a bunch of fans watching.' Taking place on a Tuesday morning and featuring a field of largely unheralded golfers, it was no surprise that the small throng of fans who turned out gravitated toward the more established names. This was not a glitz and glamour occasion. The Royal Cinque Ports experience was pared-back to say the least but entry was free, a positive move for a sport sometimes criticised as elitist and inaccessible. The mammoth task facing the field was aided by forgiving conditions on the hottest day of the year so far in the UK — at least initially. The typically blustery course, located along the stony shore of Sandwich Bay, was calm during the first round, which began at 6:45am. Ian rued his failure to emulate his son by capitalising on that. 'You can't drop six shots on your opening nine holes with no real wind,' he said. Advertisement But, as it often does in this part of the world, the wind turned during the afternoon, with the players contending against 26mph gusts during their second rounds. Luke is a relative newcomer to links golf, having spent most of his fledgling career in the US, where links courses are a rarity. He struggled to adjust to the shifting conditions, as his day 'went upside down'. It was intriguing to compare father and son as they went about their business. Ian is renowned for his loud personality and even louder dress sense, although he was sporting more neutral attire here — a bright blue T-shirt paired with light grey shorts. Luke, by contrast, exudes a calmer demeanour and appearance. But there were subtle reminders of their shared genetics as the day progressed. One shot on the 16th saw Luke throw his arms down in frustration, while a later wayward effort landed in the bunker, drawing a short expletive from the University of Florida student. Four bogeys in five holes saw him rapidly slip out of contention during his turbulent second round. He wasn't the only youngster left frustrated by the shifting winds. Spain's David Puig, the 23-year-old LIV golfer, equalled the 18-hole course record with an opening-round 64 — later matched by overall winner Dean Burmester — but faded to ninth as conditions hardened. Luke's second-half slide was the mirror image of a late recovery from Ian. It marked a second narrow disappointment for the young Poulter in as many months — he fell agonisingly short of a US Open berth in June, losing to Austen Truslow in a playoff at a qualifying event in Florida. Rather than dampen his spirits, those setbacks have only strengthened his belief that he's edging closer. 'Yeah it will happen soon, I just need to keep knocking on the door,' he told reporters afterwards. Advertisement While Luke aims to kick-start his fledgling career, Ian, who turns 50 in January, is realistic that his golden days are behind him. He said he had 'come up to have some fun' and that his son's steady progress matters more to him these days. He previously told UK radio station Talksport that he would have caddied for Luke had he qualified for the US Open. That promise still stands. 'I will 100 per cent be there on the first tee if he qualifies for a major,' he said.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Snakes & turtles, oh my! Animals making presence known at PGA Championship
Shaun Micheel watches his approach shot the on the first fairway during the 2024 PGA Championship golf tournament. Friday at the 2025 PGA Championship in Charlotte, NC, Micheel's encounter with a snake during his second round is being widely shared on social media. Shaun Micheel thought his ball was getting eaten — at best, just chomped up like a Tic Tac — which would have made for quite a ruling. One could imagine the scene: A rules official walking up, asking what's the matter, and Micheel having to explain that a snake slithered across the fairway and gobbled up his golf ball. Friday, at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, Micheel hit a 182-yard layup to the right side of the 10th fairway and, well, something got to Micheel's ball before he did — a long black snake, twisting through the grass. 'I don't know what it was? A king snake?' Micheel said. 'My ball was in the place he wanted to be. We had a guy come over and kind of shoo him away, but the snake was in no hurry.' Advertisement Micheel — who won the 2003 PGA Championship, earning a lifetime exemption into the tournament — was playing this week with his son, Dade, as his caddie. Dade was a few months from being born when his dad lifted the Wanamaker Trophy, but is now inside the ropes. He was walking just behind his dad on the 10th fairway when they saw the snake. Micheel waved his glove at the reptile and stepped back. Then a tournament employee walked over. 'He kicked it and then the thing turned around,' Dade said, still a little perplexed the employee was that comfortable. 'It was a decent-sized snake.' It came in a week when animals have been a part of the story at Quail Hollow. Especially for Micheel. Thursday, his group was halted for a little while on the 14th hole because a turtle had damaged a bunker and the grounds crew needed a minute to rake it back to perfection. Advertisement 'They're big,' Micheel said of the turtles. On the same hole, Ryan Gerard hit a chip that rolled over the green and was halted because of a turtle. Was it the same turtle? Maybe. If so, he's a star. 'It was a Mother Nature week,' Micheel said. What Micheel was quick to point out about his wildlife encounter was the good fortune that followed. When the snake was whisked away ('It kind of just went off into the rough,' Micheel said. 'It's probably out there somewhere.') he hit his 144-yard approach shot to inside 12 feet and sank the birdie putt. Then he made a birdie on No. 11 — his final two red numbers in a tournament where he finished 8-over and missed the cut. Advertisement 'There was a guy following me,' Micheel said, 'and he goes, 'Man, you need that snake on every hole.' And I said, 'Well, bring him along.'' The clip of his turtle encounter was a hit on social media. Outside the clubhouse after the round, Dade pulled out his phone, went to X and watched the video with his dad. 'That's hilarious,' Dade said. 'That is so funny.' 'I've got that.' Micheel added.
Washington Post
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Tiger Woods' son Charlie misses out on US Open qualifying again
WELLINGTON, Fla. — Charlie Woods failed to get out of local qualifying for the U.S. Open, the second straight year the son of Tiger Woods missed out. The 16-year-old Woods was among a record 10,202 entries for the U.S. Open. He improved from last year's score in 18-hole local qualifying, posting a 3-over 75 at Wellington Golf Club on Thursday. That left him seven shots short of being among those who advanced to the 36-hole final stage. A year ago, he shot 81 in the local U.S. Open qualifier.
