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My first blog of 2022 and just as we look forward to less restrictions with Covid-19 diminishing another challenge faces our world with the sad situation in Ukraine. It has taken me some time to write this as the year so far has been remarkably busy with just a few weeks off but unfortunately not with the results that I was looking to achieve.
HSBC Abu Dhabi
I had a wonderful time with the family over the Christmas & New Year & started preparing early January for the middle east swing & also celebrated my 46th birthday.
We moved to @yaslinksad for the tournament this year, a course I have played several times in previous charity events after the HSBC & before the desert classic, so I know the course well. Opened nicely with a 66 and in my press interview I shared that matches with @lukepoults24 are keeping me young, trying to keep him from beating me is the biggest motivation I have in the game. Luke is really close & we tied the last few times, so it is annoying because he hits it 30 yards past me!
The 2nd day the winds came in, cannot remember playing in such conditions since one of the Open Championships some years back. A solid 72 & a 3rd rd. 71 put me in a good position to win this going into the last day. Scoring on the last day was also difficult but I grinded hard to finish T6 & a great start to 2022.
@netflix announced a new documentary teaming up with @pgatour & golf’s major championships that will follow the lives & stories of a number of players during the 2022. I am pleased to be among them & will share more during the year.
Dubia Desert Classic
After a solid week in Abu Dhabi , I felt good coming into the week, well golf has a way of biting back and from nowhere I shot a 74 & 78 and that was that…however after all these years I have learned to accept what this game can throw at you and just move on to the next week.
Another year & another child growing up, Joshua turned ten, I just love this picture.
Saudi International
Back on the horse for the 3rd event of the trip, played solid until a last Rd 75 dropped me down the leaderboard. Time to head home.
Honda Classic
Time to start the Florida swing & had the pleasure of driving to events for 3 weeks.
Had 2 weeks to re-charge the batteries after flying across the other side of the world & despite what you may say ‘Hey Poults you travel 1st class the wear & tear on the body gets harder every year. Before the event started had the pleasure of caddying for Josh, he is really starting to enjoy his golf, I am putting no pressure on him so let’s see where it leads.
This golf course is a real test & the weather played its part, too many 3 putts but solid Rd’s of 71,71,69,71 left me in a position of T30.
Arnold Palmer Invitational
As you know one of my favorite events of the year, such great memories of Mr. Palmer & always an honor to be invited. I thought the Honda was tough but this year the course played the hardest I can remember after the 1st day. Opened nicely with a 68 and from there it become a question of hanging on over the next 3 days, 75,75 & 77 left me T42.
On the 1st day I decided to wear the national colors of Ukraine & this received a lot of media coverage. Its hard when you turn on the news right now & obviously you see the devastation that is going on around the world & you feel for the people in Ukraine, wearing these colors in respect of those suffering is the least I can do. It brings in perspective quickly we just play a silly game of golf while others are in the world suffering.
Players Championship
The PGA tour flagship event and what a week to remember! Finished in the afternoon Thursday & did not get to start my 2nd Rd till Saturday afternoon. Had to get my skates on Thursday to get in before they called for the weather warning & literally run playing 17 & 18, showing I still got it at 46 but poor @jameswalton81 was feeling it carrying that tour bag, think he was quite happy to have 36 hours to recover, ha-ha!
It was a tough test and rd.’s of 75, 70,71,71 left me in a position for T33 which ended a really challenging 3 weeks on the Florida swing, cannot remember the last time we had a run of tough conditions every week.
Took a week off before the Dell match play to go see @lukepoults24 play in the @juniorinvitational at Sage valley. As part of the new @netflix documentary they spent a couple of days with me filming which was great fun, this is going to interesting to watch, hope we as golfers we can create interest in the sport as what @drivetosurvivenetflix has done for @f1.
I spoke with @alexandra.olaughlin about this wonderful game we play. We covered many topics, and some juniors were asking what happens when you are struggling, and your game is not great. It’s simple you must talk about it, talking to people fixes many problems.
The full speech is on YouTube.com / Ian Poulter Junior Invitational.
Luke’s game is improving, a T14 in a field of this quality is showing momentum, he continues to work hard to maintain the trend and press forward.
Dell Technologies World Match Play
Pulled a tough bracket starting with the first match against Scottie Scheffler, I made 6 birdies but also a couple of mistakes which gets expensive in these matches & went down 2&1. In the 2nd match lost 4&2 to Matt Fitzpatrick & that was the end of my week, a 4&3 win over Tommy Fleetwood stopped a whitewash. My game is close, though results do not show that so onwards and upwards.
Texas Valero Open
The last cut off for the master’s was Monday 28th March, at 67th in the world rankings so no chance so last throw of the dice & although I did not feel well & should not have teed it up, it was too tempting. Out here 24 years & still learning!
I missed the first major of the year so I will take this time off and return for the RBC Heritage, not the start I was looking for to begin the year but still a long season ahead and after all these years I know from experience not to chase it, the results will come.
Until next time
Poults
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