Ian Poulter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ian Poulter |
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Poulter at the 2009 Telus Skins Game
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | Ian James Poulter |
| Nickname | The Postman |
| Born | 10 January 1976 Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 189 lb (86 kg; 13.5 st) |
| Nationality |  England |
| Residence | Orlando, Florida, U.S. Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1995 |
| Current tour(s) | LIV Golf |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour European Tour Challenge Tour |
| Professional wins | 17 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 3 |
| European Tour | 12 |
| Japan Golf Tour | 1 |
| Asian Tour | 2 |
| PGA Tour of Australasia | 1 |
| Challenge Tour | 1 |
| Other | 1 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
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| The Masters Tournament | T6: 2015 |
| U.S. Open | T12: 2006 |
| The Open Championship | 2nd: 2008 |
| PGA Championship | T3: 2012 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year |
2000 |
Ian James Poulter (born 10 January 1976) is a famous English professional golfer. He plays in the LIV Golf League. He used to be ranked as high as number 5 in the world! Ian Poulter is well-known for winning two World Golf Championship events. He was also a key player in five European teams that won the Ryder Cup. He is the touring professional for Woburn Golf and Country Club.
Becoming a Golfer
Ian Poulter was born in Hitchin and grew up in Stevenage, England. He started playing golf when he was just four years old. His dad, Terry, who was also a good golfer, gave him a special cut-down golf club. Ian's older brother, Danny, is also a professional golfer.
When Ian was starting out, it was tough to become a professional at a fancy golf club. So, he became an assistant pro and managed the golf shop at Chesfield Downs Golf Club. He even had to pay to play in competitions! Later, he became an assistant pro at Leighton Buzzard golf course. He gave golf lessons to young people for a very small fee. Ian is also a big fan of the football team Arsenal.
Ian's Golf Career
Ian Poulter became a professional golfer in 1996. His first big win was in 1999 at the Open de Côte d'Ivoire. This was on the Challenge Tour, which is like a stepping stone to the main European Tour. He then joined the main European Tour in 2000.
In his first year on the European Tour, he won the Italian Open. He was also named the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year for being the best new player. He kept winning tournaments for the next four years. A big win was the Volvo Masters in 2004. He was often in the top ten players on the European Tour's money list. In 2013, he reached his highest spot, finishing second.
Playing in the Ryder Cup
Ian Poulter is famous for his amazing performances in the Ryder Cup. This is a team competition between Europe and the United States. He almost made the team in 2002, but he was a member of the winning European team in 2004. He even scored the winning points for his team that year! Because of this, he was able to join the PGA Tour in the U.S. in 2005. Since then, he has played in both tours.
In the 2008 Masters Tournament, Ian made a "hole-in-one" on the 16th hole. That's when you hit the ball directly into the hole from the tee! At the 2008 Open Championship, he was leading in the final round but was beaten by Pádraig Harrington. In the 2008 Ryder Cup, even though Europe lost, Ian scored the most points for his team.
Winning Big Tournaments
In 2009, Ian Poulter finished second at The Players Championship. In November 2009, he won the Barclays Singapore Open. He then moved into the top 10 of the world golf rankings in 2010.
In February 2010, he won his first tournament in the U.S. It was the 2010 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona. This win moved him to 5th in the world rankings! He also played a big part in Europe's win at the 2010 Ryder Cup. In November 2010, he won the UBS Hong Kong Open.
In 2011, Ian won the 2011 Volvo World Match Play Championship. He beat his Ryder Cup teammate Luke Donald in the final. He also beat other top players like Lee Westwood. Ian was chosen to be on the European team for the 2012 Ryder Cup. He won all four of his matches and was a huge reason why his team won!
On November 4, 2012, Ian Poulter won his second World Golf Championship at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China. He came from behind to win by two strokes. He became only the second European golfer to win more than one World Golf Championship.
In 2015, at the Honda Classic, Ian was leading but had a tough final round. He ended up finishing tied for third place. In March 2016, he led the Puerto Rico Open after three rounds but finished tied for third.
In June 2016, Ian Poulter couldn't play in the Ryder Cup because of a foot injury. But he was still part of the team as a vice-captain!
Recent Career and LIV Golf
In 2017, Ian Poulter finished tied for second place at The Players Championship. This was a great result for him.
In 2018, Ian won the Houston Open. This was his third win on the PGA Tour and his first regular tournament win in the United States. He won in a sudden-death playoff, which is a tie-breaker round. This win also earned him a spot in the Masters tournament the next week.
In September 2018, Ian was again chosen for the European team in the 2018 Ryder Cup. Europe won against the United States in France. Ian won his singles match against the world's number one player, Dustin Johnson. He was also a captain's pick for the European team in the 2021 Ryder Cup.
In June 2022, Ian Poulter joined the new LIV Golf Invitational Series. Because of this, his memberships with the PGA Tour and European Tour were suspended. In May 2023, he officially resigned his membership from the European Tour.
Fun Facts About Ian
Clothing Style
Ian Poulter is famous for his unique and colorful golf outfits! His mother, who managed a fashion store, inspired his style. He once wore trousers with the famous Claret Jug (a golf trophy) on them at the Open Championship. He even started his own clothing company called IJP Design in 2007.
Personal Life
As a teenager, Ian Poulter went to The Barclay School in Stevenage.
Ian and his wife, Katie, have four children. They live in Orlando, Florida, and also have a home in Milton Keynes, England.
Ian Poulter was featured in a sports documentary series called Full Swing on Netflix in 2023.
Car Collection
Ian Poulter loves cars and has an amazing collection! Some of the cool cars he owns include:
- Ferrari 275 GTB/4
- Ferrari 288 GTO
- Ferrari Testarossa
- Ferrari Enzo
- Ferrari LaFerrari
- Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
- Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta (which is colored like the Italian flag!)
- Ferrari F12tdf
- 2017 Ford GT
He even posted a viral video on Instagram where he chipped a golf ball through the windows of his Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta!
Team Appearances
Ian Poulter has represented Europe and England in many team golf events:
- Ryder Cup (representing Europe): He was part of the winning teams in 2004, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2018.
- World Cup (representing England): He played in this event several times, including in 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2018.
- Seve Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): He was on the winning teams in 2003, 2005, and 2011.
- EurAsia Cup (representing Europe): He was part of the winning team in 2016.
Images for kids
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Poulter at the 2009 Telus Skins Game
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Poulter at the 2013 Open de France
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Poulter at the 2018 U.S. Open
In Spanish: Ian Poulter para niños
