Ian Poulter slams Nick Faldo in last-minute add to new memoir
Ian Poulter had to get in the last word, literally.
In his new book entitled “No Limits”, the Englishman criticized six-time major winner and losing 2008 Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo for saying teammate Sergio Garcia was useless during the matches at Valhalla six years ago.
“Sergio puts a brave face on it but the rest of the guys are fuming,” Poulter wrote. “I’m shocked that he has said it. It’s highly disrespectful. It’s a cheap shot and it’s the worst possible timing.
“It makes me laugh. Faldo is talking about someone being useless at the 2008 Ryder Cup. That’s the Ryder Cup where he was captain. That’s the Ryder Cup where the Europe team suffered a heavy defeat. And he was captain. So who’s useless?
“Faldo might need to have a little look in the mirror. I have always got on great with Faldo in the past and I have a great deal of respect for everything he has achieved but this feels like sour grapes. It feels like a guy who is still bitter that he lost in 2008.”
Poulter revealed his peers have lost considerable respect for Faldo, who did apologize for the remarks made in reference to Garcia’s emotional state after a break-up with Greg Norman’s daughter prior to the ’08 Ryder Cup.
“Faldo has lost a lot of respect from players because of what he said,” Poulter said. “There were plenty of things a lot of the players were unhappy with at Valhalla but none of us criticized him. He may find that begins to change now.”
The section appears to have been a last-minute addition in a chapter dedicated to the Ryder Cup matches at Gleneagles. Whether or not the chapter was planned is unclear.
Poulter also joined the Monday morning quarter-piggy-backing on Tom Watson’s decisions as captain.
“[Q]uite a few of us are surprised by Watson’s decision-making during Saturday’s play,” Poulter said. “Most of all I’m astonished he does not play Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley. He leaves them out of both sessions. It completely baffles me. It gives us a double boost because it tells us there are problems in the U.S team room. Watson’s choices mean seven of his players play 36 holes on Saturday. I find it hard to see the sense in that.”
However, don’t expect Poulter, who now resides in Florida, to give any counsel to the PGA of America’s Ryder Cup task force.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
