As Charlie Woods’s Rival Gets Teased Into Liv Golf, Are Amateurs Allowed to Compete in Greg Norman’s League?
Every father dreams of his son representing the same team! LIV Golfer Ian Poulter is no different. Nicknamed ‘The Postman’ by his Ryder Cup teammates for always delivering undefeated records, Poulter boasts a record of 15-8-2. After winning 17 tournaments on several tours, he joined LIV Golf in 2022.
Before his LIV Golf days, Poulter won two World Golf Championships: the 2010 WGC Accenture Match Play Championship and the 2012 WGC-HSBC Champions. With such accolades, it’s clear the 48-year-old Ryder Cup legend wants his legacy to carry on. It seems it might be happening already. Luke Poulter, his eldest son, was named SEC Freshman of the Week in October 2023. A staunch rival of Tiger Woods’ son Charlie Woods, the gushing father expressed his desire to see Luke play for his team.
Ian Poulter is the co-captain of the Majesticks GC team alongside Henrik Stenson. His eldest son, Luke Poulter, currently studies at the University of Florida, and Poulter wants to see him play for the same team. “Hopefully, one day [Luke] can take over the reins from me as a Majesticks GC player. We’ll see how his next three years at college go, but I’d love nothing more than for Luke to wear the Majesticks shirt,” said Poulter. But are amateurs allowed to play in the breakaway league?
The answer is a big yes! The Saudi-Arabia League had its promotions event last year from December 8 to December 10. Hosted at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club with 72 holes played over three days, the event saw Major championship winners, Ryder Cup participants, and top amateurs invited to play. With a purse of $1.5 million, the players aimed for a membership to the breakaway league.
The top three winners were rewarded with $200,000, $150,000, and $100,000. All pros were guaranteed at least $5,000, while amateurs were promised $1,000 for participating. Kalle Samooja, 36, won the event, underscoring that amateurs can indeed be part of the league. Hence, if his son plays well, Ian Poulter’s dream is not far-fetched. History supports this possibility.
**David Puig: A Trailblazer for Amateurs in LIV Golf**
David Puig became the first amateur to join LIV Golf on September 23 at LIV Golf Chicago. Despite finishing at T37 with an over-par score, it was a significant milestone in his life as his first professional championship. Ranked ninth among amateurs globally, Puig’s transition from college programs at Arizona State to LIV Golf was career-changing, even if overshadowed by LIV’s acquisition of stars like Phil Mickelson and Cameron Smith.
With everything pointing in the right direction, Luke Poulter’s entry into the breakaway league seems imminent. If things go as planned, we might soon see Luke Poulter competing in LIV Golf, fulfilling his father’s dreams and carrying on the legacy.
