• WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

Furious Poulter hits back at TV pundit

ESPN staff
February 23, 2012
Ian Poulter was a little prickly after his defeat © PA Photos
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Ian Poulter vented his frustration at television commentator Bruce Critchley following his first-round exit at the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

Poulter won the event in 2010, but defeat to Korea's Sae Bang-moon saw him fail to reach the last-32 for the second successive year.

Sky Sports critic Critchley, a former Walker Cup player, suggested that Poulter was perhaps not as focused on his golf as he could be. But while he admitted he played "rubbish", Poulter responded furiously to Critchley's comments, taking to Twitter to defend himself.

"I would love some of our commentators to do a day in my shoes with family, gym and practice sessions," Poulter said. "They haven't got a F&@ "£% clue how hard we work. They sit on their ass talking crap. That's really difficult.

"Well Bruce Critchley talks complete ****** most of the time anyway. Sorry Sky Sports viewers for having to listen to his crap every week."

Poulter, who was well beaten 4&3 by Sae, admitted he offered little resistance to the Korean.

"That was simply rubbish, five bogeys, I beat myself," Poulter said. "I wouldn't have given many a good game today. It's a shame. I love match play. If I'm ever happy in defeat that day will be the last day I ever hit a golf ball. I will retire. I hate losing and hopefully always hate it. I am a bad loser. I've never known a good one."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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