The latest exchange of digital barbs between two long-time antagonists has led to Ian Poulter claiming Billy Horschel asked for $45 million to join LIV Golf.
It started out as a social-media post from Poulter about swing speeds. Horschel couldn’t resist calling B.S., writing on X that Poulter was “one of those guys that over exaggerate their club head speed.”
A chart that Horschel posted showed Poulter’s swing speed at 110 mph but Poulter responded that the numbers were wrong, that his swing speed is 115 mph.
This is so funny.
My own swing speed is 115MPH I carry it 290-295 Yards. So unless these Yardages are set from landing on a Runway or up Mount Everest they’re all wrong. All numbers given should be carry and also launch conditions need to be stated.— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) December 22, 2023
That led to a further discussion of numbers with Poulter making the claim that Horschel had asked for nearly $50 million to join LIV Golf, the upstart rival league led by Greg Norman and financially backed by the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund.
It’s alright Billy… I’m normally ok with numbers.. So I got it wrong by about $9 Million per MPH difference that you asked for to come join LIV. What’s a few numbers between friends.
https://t.co/HwM65rffpZ
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) December 23, 2023
Poulter ended his post with: “What’s a few numbers between friends.”
The duo were teammates nearly a decade ago when they tied for third at the Franklin Templeton Shootout, an old silly season event that preceded the QBE Shootout, which was replaced by the mixed-team Grant Thornton Invitational this year.
Poulter joined LIV before its first event in June of 2022. He reportedly received about $20 million to join the circuit.