Ian Poulter Confirms LIV Golf Exit

Ian Poulter is the latest big name to confirm he won't be playing in LIV Golf 2.0 with the Majesticks co-captain revealing he's leaving the tour

Ian Poulter at LIV Golf Andalucia
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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Ian Poulter handed LIV Golf another huge blow as he revealed he won't be signing up for the proposed 2.0 version and will be leaving the tour.

The Majesticks co-captain is the second big name and second team leader in a week to leave LIV Golf following Louis Oosthuizen's exit.

In a lengthy statement on Instagram, Poulter said it was a "tough decision" he had taken but made the move in order to "spend more time at home with my family, reduce international travel, focus on senior golf" next year.

The news comes just a couple of days before the 25 October deadline LIV boss Scott O'Neil has in order to get enough players signed up to secure a $300m investment deal with BC Partners.

Ian Poulter's full statement on leaving LIV Golf

Hi All – I wanted everyone to hear it direct from me that I have decided to not move forward with being part of LIV 2.0.
Needless to say, it was a tough decision and one I thought about and discussed at length with my family and team.
Ultimately, the opportunity to spend more time at home with my family, reduce international travel, focus on senior golf and have the opportunity to pursue other interests was something that I felt was right for me at this stage of my life and career.
Clearly, LIV Golf has divided opinion, but to be part of the founding group that took world class golf around the globe, showcased our great game to a new audience, built a team brand in Majesticks GC, helped innovate tournament formats and establish a leading community impact program in Little Sticks, is something I will be forever proud of. And that's just scratching the surface of what we achieved together.
Change is never easy and it's fair to say professional golf has experienced plenty of it over the last few years. But I've always believed that change can create opportunity and ultimately lead to positive outcomes. There will undoubtedly be more changes ahead, but I am confident the game will continue to grow, evolve, and deliver the very best for golf fans around the world.
I'm immensely grateful to everyone who has been part of my journey with LIV Golf, from my teammates and colleagues, league staff, partners and of course the fans who supported us along the way – thank you! We've shared some incredible experiences, created great memories, and built friendships that will last well beyond the golf course. Whatever happens next, I wish you nothing but the very best for the future.
As for what's next for me, I'm genuinely excited about this next chapter. I'm looking forward to spending more time with my family, continuing to develop The Postman YouTube channel, sharing more of my life, golf, experiences and competing in some senior events. Something I am also particularly looking forward to is being able to spend more time helping Luke as he pursues his career in professional golf, and Joshua as he looks to develop as a golfer in his teenage years. Having spent so many years travelling the world chasing my own golfing dreams, the opportunity to now spend more time supporting my boys as they chase theirs is something that means a great deal to me.
After all these years, golf has given me so much, and I'm excited about what lies ahead, both on and off the course. Thanks again to everyone who has been part of the journey so far! We certainly aren't done yet!
Best, Poults

Paul Higham
Contributor

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

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