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Ian Poulter was not amused by the way he sliced his ball into the heavy gorse off the 16th tee at Gullane Golf Club on his way to a missed cut at the Scottish Open, but he has to earn style points for the way he stuck his over-the-head, behind-the-back club toss, complete with a sort of backwards Tiger Woods club twirl.
Ian Poulter's Spectacular Club Toss After a Horrible Slice at Scottish Open https://t.co/YUeaV9uuWe pic.twitter.com/H0N99yTBgr
— Michael Shamburger (@mshamburger1) July 10, 2015
Not exactly the warmup the European half of the Poulter-Rickie Fowler duo voted most overrated by PGA Tour colleagues had in mind for next week’s British Open.
That was absolutely shocking. Such a disgraceful miss cut. Didn't play that bad just putted horrific. A nice weekend at St Andrews ahead.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) July 10, 2015
While Poulter’ errant drive fell harmlessly into the grasses, Justin Rose’s left-leaning tee shot on the same hole hit an older spectator on the head, the sight of which caused a teenage boy to faint, according to Bernie McGuire.
"I saw a bit of blood, and that’s never a good sight. He was an elderly gent, but he took it all incredibly well," Rose, who was shaken by the incident but managed to post a second straight 4-under 66, told McGuire. "And bless the young fellow. He got a bit weak at the knees but fortunately he came around quite quickly."
Rose’s playing partner, Phil Mickelson, lightened what could have been a far more gruesome moment.
"Phil came over and said I'm sorry, it wasn't me this time," Rose told reporters later.
Rose headed into the weekend at 8-under, just three shots back of 36-hole leader Daniel Brooks. Mickelson, after a 69 and 68, was 3-under to start on Saturday. Fowler also earned weekend tee times for his two-day, 6-under effort.