Why Poulter, Garcia & Stenson have got it all wrong

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

THE BMW PGA championship is the European Tour's flagship event. Apart from The Open, it is the biggest tournament played on this continent.

It offers huge prize money and many world ranking points, it attracts vast crowds, eager to grab a rare opportunity to watch the tour's best players. Like The Masters, it is held at the same course every year. Wentworth is an iconic golf course, but there are some players who don't especially like it. In his prime, Padraig Harrington would consistently sit out the event because the course didn't suit his eye. It was a difficult decision to fathom, given that he was one of the best golfers on the planet, a man who won The Open at Carnoustie, which is one of the most difficult courses on the planet.

When the tournament tees off on Thursday, May 21, rising American star Patrick Reed will be in the field. Good on him. He has joined the European Tour because he feels that it will help to further his golfing education and make him a better player. He is to be applauded - and he will attract a sizeable gallery at Wentworth because he is one of the most exciting players in the world.

Missing from the field, however, will be Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia. There are not just any Europeans. They are three of our best.

Poulter justifies his decision by saying he has never played well at Wentworth. Unsurprisingly, Derek Lawrenson, one of the best golf writers in the world, took issue with Poulter's decision and the 39-year-old Englishman responded by turning on Lawrenson on Twitter. He asked if Lawrenson had "nothing to write about again?”  and then said that in his 13 appearances he had played poorly.

He asked if Usain Bolt would compete in a marathon. Well no, Poults, of course he wouldn't. He's a sprinter. And you are a golfer. Professional golfers play on different courses every week of the year.

Poulter has always been one of my favourite players and individuals. He is a feisty character whose never-say-die attitude has won him millions of fans around the world. His Ryder Cup heroics are the stuff of legend, and he has made the most of his gifts. When he turned pro with a five handicap, did anybody seriously believe he would go on to achieve a fraction of what he has? Probably not.

But he has got this one wrong and will leave thousands of people disappointed. Rory McIlroy will be there to defend his title. Justin Rose and Luke Donald will be in the field. I wonder if Poulter has any idea at all just how many people would willingly swap places with him and would bite his hand off for the chance to play in the BMW PGA championship?

He should also remember one other thing. We are still living in harsh economic times, even though he may not realise it. The European Tour finds it increasingly difficult to keep hold of its marquee sponsors, and BMW just might look at the no-shows of Poulter, Stenson and Garcia and ask themselves whether it is worth continuing to pour millions of pounds into this event.

Photo Credit: TourProGolfClubs.com