SEOUL (AFP) ― Ian Poulter is already a golfing icon in Korea for his flamboyant fashion on the fairways, and now he wants to cement his popularity in this golf-mad nation by winning the Ballantine’s Championship.
The Englishman finished seventh in the U.S. Masters at the start of this month, shooting a final-round 66 ― a score he matched in the last round at the China Open in Tianjin last weekend ― so is running into form.
He will tee off in the first round at Blackstone Golf Club, near Seoul, on Thursday in a group with Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee.
Competitors in the 2012 Ballantine’s Championship, including Korea’s Yang Yong-eun (third from right) pose with the championship trophy. Korea’s biggest golf tournament tees off Thursday at the Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. (Ballantine’s Championship)
Last year Poulter missed the cut by a single shot at the tough Blackstone course set among spectacular mountain scenery, but he said that did not tell the whole story.
“I was pushing right to the end and made an eagle at the last, unfortunately to miss the cut by a shot,” he said.
“(Lee) Westwood, who made the cut on the mark, went on to win the tournament. That’s how close it could have been.”
Poulter was amazed by the support he received in Korea 12 months ago, on only his second appearance in the country, and said he doesn’t mind being renowned in Asia as much for his sartorial elegance as his golf.
“Koreans like to dress well. They like lots of color and me being able to bring my clothing line to Korea and wear it ― I think people relate to that.”
The Ryder Cup player was referring to the fact that his Ian Poulter Design is the event’s official apparel this week ― the first time he has had the opportunity to display his sports clothing range at the European-Asia Tour co-sanctioned event.
“Would I like to be known as a great golfer or someone who wears great, great clothes? I’d like to be known for both,” Poulter said. “I’m not picking one over the other.
“First and foremost I have been able to win more than 13 tournaments around the world so I am a good golfer. It’s dead simple. But I also look good on the golf course. So I’m not going to pick one over the other. I think they both go together very well.”
Asked how many different outfits he wears throughout the season, Poulter had to pause to think of the answer.
”Ah, how many times do I play?“ he said. ”I almost wear a different one every time I play. So hundreds. Hundreds and hundreds.“
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
