Ian James Poulter (born 10 January 1976) is an English professional golfer who plays in the LIV Golf League.

[2] Born in Hitchin, and raised in Stevenage,[3] Poulter took up the game at the age of four when his single-handicap father, Terry, gave him a cut-down 3-wood.

[10] In February 2010, he won his first tournament on U.S. soil, beating fellow Englishman Paul Casey 4&2 in the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

[13] On 23 February 2011, in Marana, Arizona, Poulter became the first defending champion in nine years to be eliminated in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

[15] On 4 November 2012, Poulter won the second World Golf Championship of his career at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shenzhen, China, coming from four strokes back in the final round to win by two from four other players.

He shot a final round of 65 which included 8 birdies in his first 15 holes to seize control and despite a late bogey, closed out the victory by two strokes.

However he had a disastrous four-over-par final round of 74, where he found the water five times, included twice on the 14th hole which cost him a triple bogey.

He was also at risk of losing his European Tour card since he had only played in 12 events, one short of membership and Ryder Cup eligibility.

He only earned entry to the Hong Kong Open after Rich Beem gave up his sponsor exemption to allow Poulter to compete.

He initially failed to meet the terms, but his results and criteria were reevaluated, allowing Poulter to keep his Tour card for the remainder of the season.

[20] The Golf Channel website also mentioned that Brian Gay (who was also playing on a major medical extension) noted a discrepancy in the points distribution from the previous season.

[22] The following week, Poulter won the Houston Open, claiming his third victory on the PGA Tour and first stroke play tournament win in the United States.

Poulter won in a sudden-death playoff, after holing a lengthy birdie putt on the final green of regulation play to tie Beau Hossler.

In September 2018, Poulter was named as a captain's pick by Thomas Bjørn for the European team participating in the 2018 Ryder Cup.

[23] In September 2021, Poulter was a captain's pick by Pádraig Harrington for the European team in the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.

[24] Poulter is well known for his eccentric dress sense, inspired by his mother, who managed the Letchworth branch of UK women's fashion chain Dorothy Perkins.

Poulter and his wife, Katie, have four children and live in Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida.

[31] PGA Tour playoff record (1–0) *Note: The 2002 Italian Open Telecom Italia was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.