IAN POULTER showed the anger between LIV golf rebels and the game’s establishment is as strong as ever with a blast at Ryder Cup chiefs for snubbing Sergio Garcia.
“The Postman” lost his rag after the Ryder Cup Twitter feed posted a clip of a delicate chip by Italy’s Francesco Molinari during the 2018 win over the USA at Le Golf National on the outskirts of Paris.
Ian Poulter slammed the Ryder Cup for snubbing Sergio Garcia on his birthdayGetty
LIV Golf wished both Garcia and Poulter a happy birthday while the Ryder Cup remained silentGetty
Molinari’s shot was accompanied by the message “incredible touch”.
But that set off a raging Poulter, who responded with a withering post of his own as he noted the omission of any birthday wishes to Spaniard Garcia, an 11-time European team member who turned 43 this week.
Poulter wrote: “What’s really an “incredible touch” is the Players that helped build the @RyderCupEurope Brand with other players as well.
“You just can’t bring yourself to say a simple Happy Birthday. @TheSergioGarcia B’day Yesterday.
“Unfortunately this says so much.”
That led LIV Golf to quickly respond by publicly wishing Garcia a happy birthday with a post on Twitter.
A day later it was Poulter’s turn for festivities, with LIV Golf also wishing him a happy 47th birthday while the Ryder Cup page remained silent.
They wrote: “Join us in wishing Poults a happy birthday! .”
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Poulter’s snipe followed on from LIV Golf’s Florida lawyers revealing they had served legal papers on Rory McIlroy and Davis Love III and failed on five occasions to do so on Tiger Woods accusing them of being part of the PGA’s attempt to kill off its rival.
And LIV have now accused detractors of weaponising the heartbreak of the September 11 terrorism victims and their families in a bid to damage the Saudi-owned tour.
Claims by the PGA Tour’s PR firm Clout, alleging that LIV had engaged an agency to track and monitor the 9/11 victim families who have criticised the new tour for “sportswashing” their Saudi backers, brought a furious backlash.
Tour lawyers Klayman said the claims showed Clout was “using the horrible tragedy of 9/11 to whip up hatred against LIV Golf and its players”.
They added: “Playing the ‘9/11 card’ against LIV Golf and LIV players is not only hypocritical, but also despicable.”