Rory McIlroy broke the internet with his sharp barb at Henrik Stenson. Now, the Swede’s current LIV Golf teammate, Ian Poulter, chose to reply in kind. Poulter, taking a sarcastic jibe at the Northern Irishman, called him a “class act” who would never blast his former vice-captain.

Poulter, a Ryder Cup legend himself, found no support from McIlroy on his Ryder Cup bid. The 47-year-old, along with Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, was ineligible after the European Tour imposed heavy fines on LIV Golfers, compelling them to resign from the tour. McIlroy termed the veteran golfers’ LIV Golf switch as a ‘betrayal’.  As the Englishman’s recent comments show, no love is lost between them.

Quintessential British humor on display from Ian Poulter

Commenting on McIlroy’s tweet where he dubbed Stenson’s LIV Golf switch as a blessing in disguise, the Englishman, sarcastically, said “Rory McIlroy wouldn’t say this. it’s fake I promise you. He is a class act and wouldn’t say that about a Team mate.” McIlroy has played with Stenson on the 2016 and 2018 Ryder Cup. Notably, Poulter, too, shares a long Ryder Cup history with Rory McIlroy. 

The duo has paired up in four editions of the prestigious Tournament, the first of which was the Miracle of Medinah and the last of which came at the 2021 Whistling Straits outing. Incidentally, Stenson was a vice-captain under Padraig Harrington two years back. However, LIV Golf’s arrival has changed the landscape of their professional and personal relationship.

Rory McIlroy has been up in arms against LIV Golfers since the breakaway league snatched major names from the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. Asked during the patriotic showdown, whether he missed the presence of veteran golfers like, the four-time Major winner said it was quite the contrary.

Moreover, McIlroy said, the exclusion of the old guards opened the doors for young guns like Ludvig Aberg, Sepp Straka, and Nicolai Hojgaard to join the squad. Harking back to the earlier comments, the Northern Irish pro once again took a jab at the LIV Golf- this time at the cost of Henrik Stenson.

McIlroy’s not-so-subtle jab at Stenson

Rory McIlroy softened up a little bit after Jon Rahm’s departure to the LIV Golf. Calling for a rule change the 34-year-old said, he couldn’t imagine Europe heading over to the Bethpage Black without Rahm on their side. Commenting on this performance, coach Lou Stagner asked if he would change his view on Henrik Stenson.

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