Ian Poulter unleashes at LIV Golf spectator in furious X-rated rant on course

Ian Poulter launched a foulmouthed rant at a spectator as he faltered on the final round of the LIV Houston tournament on Sunday. Poulter, who has cut a defiant figure since his controversial move from the PGA Tour in 2022, finished with a seven-over par 79 as he continues to struggle for form on the Saudi-backed tour.

But it was an incident with a fan, rather than the Englishman’s performance, that dominated the post-tournament headlines.

After playing a tee shot, the 48-year-old was heading into his golf buggy when he turned angrily to confront the male.

In video footage of the incident, Poulter clearly shouts “Why don't you f*** off?” at the startled spectator. He followed that up with “You were f***ing quacking it up on the 18th tee so f*** off.”

In a futile attempt to simmer Poulter’s rage, the fan meekly replied with “just relax” but the Ryder Cup hero took little notice. “Shut the f*** up,” he ranted. “You didn't say hi and you didn't say it on the 18th tee either. So I suggest you shut the f*** up.”

Even as he was being driven away in the buggy, Poulter continued his verbal volleys, demanding the man was ejected from the tournament if he irked him again. “Next time, he's out,” he told officials.

It’s been anything but a harmonious week for the former world No.5, who was left seething before the tournament even began after British Airways contrived to leave his clubs at Heathrow. And he was already well on the way to Texas when he learned of the error.

Taking to Instagram mid-flight, he posted: “FFS @British_Airways so disappointing. I checked in 2 hours 30 minutes before the flight. What could possibly be the excuse? Just received the email 3 hours into the flight. I wouldn't have bothered flying if you're not sending my golf clubs. Can't swing fresh air.”

He wasn’t done there, later adding “Talk about p***ed off @British_Airways. The golf bag wasn't over weight. I took it to over size and scanned it and watched it go down the belt. #Pathetic.”

And it seemed little consolation to him Henrik Stenson's bag had also been left behind, writing: “@British_Airways just for the record there are @henrikstenson golf clubs as well. You might as well find those as well whilst your looking for mine. The only thing you guys do very well is charge for flying.”

It was Carlos Ortiz who won LIV Golf Houston on Sunday for his first LIV triumph. The Mexican closed with a five-under 67 to beat Adrian Meronk by a stroke .