Ian Poulter He’s not the type to avoid difficult questions. A seven-time Ryder Cup player, he has made a name for himself by tackling things head-on and has long been one of the most outspoken men in the LIV golf scene. So when a fan stopped by the Instagram Q&A and asked the celebrity, “What happens if LIV Golf closes?”, Poulter didn’t hesitate to answer.
“I don’t really think that will happen. But I’ll probably take a year off and look at what I want to do next. There’s a lot of options. Help my boys get to the 2.0 and 3.0 versions and it’ll be bigger and better. What a dream I am,” Poulter replied.
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His response was just three sentences long, no PR, no showboating, no attempt to please higher-ups. Poulter was honest about what he was thinking about if his relationship with LIV didn’t work out. It’s not every day you see a professional open up like that. If you look at Poulter’s answer you’ll see how he explains it. First, he dismisses the idea that LIV is folding, but he doesn’t actually stop it. Then he says he might maybe take a year off to keep his options open. But the real crux of his answer is about his sons. You can tell he’s already thinking about what will happen if things go south, and honestly, he seems pretty calm about it.
May 6, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Ian Poulter and son Luke during the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship Golf Tournament. Required Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Poulter was one of the first players to make the jump to LIV in June 2022, leaving the PGA Tour and relinquishing his DP World Tour card, which doesn’t come cheap. He’s earned over $8 million in four seasons, so he’s not short on cash at all. That kind of cushion makes it easier to talk about the 49-year-old having “a lot of options,” especially if there are kids at the game. He also points out that if LIV goes bankrupt, it could cause chaos not just for LIV, and he is concerned that the DP World Tour may not be able to hold the event.
His 2025 season really put things into perspective. Poulter showed up at LIV Golf Indianapolis barely holding on in 52nd place in the standings, with one week left until relegation. He managed to pull off some solid rounds and squeaked through, but his teammates Henrik Stenson I was unlucky and got demoted. Brooks Koepka At the end of the year, he left the league completely. The original LIV staff is starting to split, and Poulter’s Instagram responses give us a pretty good idea of where his head is at. Saudi PIF has announced that it will withdraw funds from LIV after 2026, and CEO Scott O’Neill is currently looking for new investors to continue the business. Fans haven’t been very receptive to Poulter’s calm attitude towards the whole thing, especially since the league has racked up some serious losses. Most people think LIV’s problems are much bigger than he’s letting on.
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But if you read between the lines of Poulter’s Instagram, it’s clear he’s already thinking about what’s next. And to be honest, that next chapter will probably have a lot to do with his son, who is currently playing college golf in Florida.
Ian Poulter’s son Luke is building his golf resume
Luke Poulter, 21, is a third-year student at the University of Florida. The Orlando-raised Circle Christian High School graduate averaged 71.1 strokes per game in 2025-26 for the Gators. In March 2026, he won his first NCAA tournament. That summer, Luke played for Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup at Cypress Point. He never joined this team after his father turned pro at the age of 20. Luke narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2025 US Open due to a sudden-death playoff. Since then, he has reached 27th place in the world amateur ranking.
Ian Poulter admits the pressure that comes with using his name. On the Golf IQ podcast, he explained that growing up surrounded by professional sports didn’t guarantee success and that he chose to avoid having an overbearing parent.
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“I just try to be a support system,” he said. “The biggest mistake I see with some parents is trying to live their lives through their children.”
Ian Poulter also mentioned his younger son Joshua, who has not yet played competitive golf, but said he plans to support his development. His reference to “our sons” indicates a clear intention to mentor two sons.
Poulter is now focused on the next generation. While LIV continues to look for new investors, Poulter has already turned his attention to his sons’ future in golf. The next chapter is underway in Gainesville.
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This article first appeared on EssentiallySports: LIV golf veteran reveals feelings on claims of league closure amid threat of bankruptcy. Click here to add EssentiallySports as your preferred source.
