• Open Championship

'Childish' Poulter told to shut up

Ian Poulter has been described as 'childish' after his criticism of the Open Championship set-up at Muirfield.

Poulter was one of many players to struggle in the hot conditions on the opening day of the Open and he was extremely critical of the Scottish track's greens.

Taking to Twitter, Poulter said: "Unfortunately the guys this afternoon will struggle with a few pin positions. 8th hole is a joke, 18th needs a windmill & clown face."

Poulter's sentiments were echoed by Phil Mickelson, who called on event organisers to 'let go of their ego'.

"I got very lucky to play early today because as the day wore on and we got to the back nine, about a third of every green started to die and become brown," Mickelson said. "And the pins were very edgy, on the slopes. The guys that played early had a huge, huge break. Because even without any wind, it's beyond difficult.

"Hopefully they (the R&A) will let go of their ego and set it up reasonable, but you just never know."

Poulter, who carded a one-over 72, incurred the wrath of veteran BBC commentator Peter Alliss.

"It's not what anybody wants to hear," Alliss said. "I think they are very foolish to express their views like that. They all talk about links golf and how wonderful it is to come here and play on the course.

"Mickelson went round in 69 and is very much in the hunt and Poulter is only one over. You could say it is better to criticise when you have made a good score than it is when you have done a bad score.

"Poulter's remarks are just childish. You can't say stuff about windmills and clown's faces. It's just ridiculous. I never heard Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer come out with comments like that."

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