Another Poulter in the pipeline
Will Luke follow Ian's footsteps to tour stardom; Phil's last stand?; Stray Shots
Luke Poulter is a sophomore at Florida (Tyler McFarland/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Will a Poulter finally win a major some day?
It’s not that dumb a question. But if that occurs, it won’t be 49-year-old Ian Poulter holding up the trophy. His son, Luke — a sophomore at the University of Florida — has a more realistic chance than his dad.
Jack Nicklaus’ son, Gary, reached the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, just won his first AJGA event. Poulter’s son is showing signs of a golfer who is rounding into professional form.
A winner in 2025 at the Schenkel Invitational, Poulter has been a solid part of the Gators’ success. He posted three match-play wins in the SEC Championship and a pair of 1-down losses in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the NCAA Championship, where Florida lost in the semifinals 4-1 to Virginia.
On Monday, the 21-year-old just missed out on qualifying for the U.S. Open next week at Oakmont — losing a two-man playoff to Asian Tour pro Austen Truslow for the final at Emerald Dunes Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. As first alternate, he still has a chance to get in after shooting 10-under (69-65) in the qualifier and making only one bogey in 36 holes.
“Luke lost on the second extra playoff hole to a birdie. I can’t believe how impressive today’s 65 was to get him in that position,” Ian posted on Instagram. “We keep using this incredible experience and we keep getting better. [Luke has earned] an alternate spot but not sure what number it will be.”
The younger Poulter is trending toward following his dad into the professional ranks.
“He played beautifully, it was tough because of the thunder and the lightning and delays, and we had to go into Tuesday, and he handled all that very well,” David Clark, Poulter’s caddie in both the local and final qualifier, said regarding the weather-extended qualifier. “But he played really well. He played beautifully.”
Clark can speak from experience, having caddied on PGA Tour for Vijay Singh, Adam Scott, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose. He now loops on LIV for Ian Poulter.
“This game is brutal,” Clark said of how the younger Poulter took the near qualifying miss. “It’s a constant beat down, but you have to dust yourself off and you have to go again. I thought he took it very well. He was obviously disappointed, as you would be. But listen, he’s a mature young man. … Continue to do what you’re doing, and you’re gonna be absolutely fine.”
There seem to be many similarities between father and son, with the younger inheriting his dad’s putting and short game. But he adds a new twist being 6-foot-4 — three inches taller than Ian. Luke, like many college kids, hits the ball long — a feature his pop could only dream about.
On Tuesday, Luke Poulter headed to South Carolina and the Palmer Cup at Congaree, where the Englishman’s son is part of the International team despite being born and raised in Florida. He and partner Elia Galitsky rallied from 4 down through five holes to tie their mixed four-ball match against Preston Stout and Kelly Xu as the International team opened a narrow 6.5-5.5 lead on Day 1.
Phil Mickelson is still grinding on LIV at 54 … but for how much longer? (Pedro Salado/LIV Golf)
Is this Phil’s last stand?
Phil Mickelson, who just turned 24, played his first U.S. Open as a professional in 1994 at Oakmont and tied for 47th. That same week, Arnold Palmer played in his last at age 64.
Next week, in the final days before he turns 55, Mickelson very well may play in his 34th and final U.S. Open. His exemption for winning the 2021 PGA Championship runs out after Oakmont, where he will try again to complete his career grand slam. Mickelson may have to rely on getting a special exemption from the USGA to compete in 2026. He was offered one in 2021 but didn’t use it after winning the PGA at age 50.
“I haven’t thought about it too much. There’s a high likelihood that it will be (my last U.S. Open), but I haven’t really thought about it too much,” Mickelson said Wednesday ahead of the LIV Golf Virginia event at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
“What I have thought about is how similar this week’s course is set up to what we’ll see next week. We have greens that are rolling 14 to 15 on the stimpmeter just like we will next week (at Oakmont). We have contours, undulations just like we will next week. I think it’s a great way to prepare for next week. …
“Short game, touch, chipping around the greens, rough, speed, lag drills and speed and touch on the greens, all of that’s critical here same thing as next week. It couldn’t be a better spot to get ready.”
A record six-time runner-up in the U.S. Open, Mickelson’s best chances to win it were left behind him at Winged Foot (2006), Merion (2013), Shinnecock (2004), Bethpage (2009) and Pinehurst (1999). He’s realistically shown no sign of turning back the clock like he did at Kiawah in the 2021 PGA, especially on a brute of a course like Oakmont. It’s not Augusta National.
Mickelson admits his time is running short — even on LIV where he captain’s the Hy Flyers.
“I’m also going to be 55 in a couple weeks, so I want to be realistic there, too,” he said. “I want this team to succeed. I don’t want to hold it back. If I’m not an asset, if I’m not helping, if I’m holding it back, then it’s time for me to move on and get somebody else in here who is going to really help the team win and succeed.
“These guys deserve to experience that, and I want them to. As a partner in this team, I want that, as well. That needs to be the top priority is what can I do to help this team win, and if as a player I’m holding it back, then it’s time for me to move on.”
Stray Shots: Scheff, Schauff and Peete?
By Peter Kaufman
1. The Memorial: Not much excitement (except perhaps for Tony Finau’s one-handed 15-foot birdie putt on Saturday), just more Scottie Scheffler grindingly repetitive excellence. He ran away with this one too, and Ben Griffin finished second. It was Scheffler’s 16th win on the PGA Tour.
Scheffler is on an amazing streak. His last seven starts — T2, 4, T8, 1, 1, T4 and 1. Are you kidding me? And with a major win at the PGA Championship tossed in there.
We are close to the point where everyone straps it on knowing the only competition is likely for second place. Or maybe we are there now?
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