Furious Poulter hits back at critics

IAN Poulter has reacted angrily to a magazine article which claimed the Ryder Cup winner believed he was the only player capable of challenging world No 1 Tiger Woods.

Poulter gave the interview, which will be used in March's edition of Golf World, three months ago, while a section of the article was apparently taken from a brief interview he gave while practising at last March's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Florida.

The magazine reported Poulter said: "The trouble is I don't rate anyone else. Don't get me wrong; I respect everyone who is a professional. But the problem is I haven't played to my full potential yet. And when that happens it will just be me and Tiger."

But after carding an opening round two-under-par 70 at the Dubai Desert Classic which is currently being led by Woods, Poulter hit back and said: "I'm misquoted. It was taken out of context. The whole answer to the question has been taken out of context.

"When you do an interview three months ago, it's hard to try and go back in your mind and think exactly what you did say and how the question was asked and then you do remember and you have given an answer to a question that's very lengthy and a small piece gets quoted, it gets taken out of context and that's unfair, very, very unfair."

Reports had suggested Poulter's fellow professionals may give each other a pre-arranged signal on the driving range and disappear before yesterday's first round, leaving just Poulter, a member of Europe's victorious 2004 Ryder Cup team at Oakland Hills, and Woods practising.

Poulter, who admitted he was affected by the news of the article throughout his opening round at the Emirates Golf Club, added: "I'm talking about Tiger Woods, look how far Tiger Woods is ahead of everyone else.

"If you want to achieve more in golf, you look at one person, and he is so far in front. He's so good. It would be a dream to see Tiger Woods and then me in the world rankings as you look down, what's wrong with that? Is it being disrespectful to everybody else? I don't think so.

"I want to get as close as I possibly can. As long as he's playing golf I'm not going to get to number one, so number two is the spot. What I said was obviously not meant to say I don't rate anyone else.

"I have respect for everybody that plays golf. I play against them week-in-week-out. They are my friends. That's not how it was supposed to come out and that's not how I believe I actually said that. If it's been published the way it has then it's a great shame."

While practising at last March's Arnold Palmer Invitational, Poulter was asked who he thought would win several tournaments throughout the year and he responded by saying Woods would win the Masters, while he would win the year's second major at the US Open.

But after admitting he was foolish to respond while he should have been concentrating on practice, he admitted his comments were down to ambition.

"I'm not going to turn up at a golf tournament and not want to win, so why should I say who is going to win a golf tournament, I might as well say me.

"Tiger is going to say himself, and other players, if they are going to answer the question honestly, should say themselves because they have got a chance. It's not being selfish or disrespectful and that's what I believe, and nor should I believe anything else because you just dampen your confidence every single time."

TIGER SURGES INTO EARLY LEAD

TIGER Woods effortlessly claimed his 62nd US PGA Tour victory at Torrey Pines last week, but ominously insisted he has already stepped up his game to a new level.

The world No 1 carded an opening round seven-under-par 65 at the Dubai Desert Classic yesterday to open up a two-stroke lead.

The claim by the best player on the planet is a stark warning to the entire golfing world, never mind the chasing pack at the Emirates Golf Club, who are battling to stop the 13-time major winner claiming a second Dubai crown this week.

Abu Dhabi Golf champion Martin Kaymer is joined in second place on five-under-by ten others, including early pacesetter Pelle Edberg and Miguel Angel Jimenez, who joined the group after grabbing a hole-in-one at the 170-yard seventh.

Woods, who finished third last year, has now only dropped four strokes in his last 78 holes at the Emirates Golf Club.

"It is definitely better than last week," he said.

"I hit the golf ball a lot more cleanly and shaped the ball better. I played well today. I hit a bunch of good shots."

Defending champion Henrik Stenson joins three-time Dubai winner Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia in a group at four-under. Colin Montgomerie, who was playing alongside Woods, finished the day at level par after carding two double-bogeys over his last four holes.

LEADERS

65: T Woods (USA). 67: J M Singh (Ind), G McDowell (N Ire), M Kaymer (Ger), P Edberg (Swe), S Dyson (Eng), A McLardy (Rsa), S Hend (Aus), G Murphy, M A Jimenez (Spa), T Levet (Fra), J Randhawa (Ind). 68: R J Derksen (Ned), G Houston (Eng), D McGrane (Eng), J Kingston (SA), S Kapur (Ind), D Howell (Eng), S Hansen (Den), B Barham (Eng), D Vancsik (Arg), S Garcia (Spa), E Els (SA), A Canete (Arg), P O'Malley (Aus), H Stenson (Swe).