Ian Poulter: "Woods Won't Finish in Top 5"

How about a little trash-talk to get us through Tuesday morning, eh? According to Teddy Greenstein, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, Ian Poulter was asked where he believes Tiger Woods will finish this week at The Masters -- an event that Woods has won four times.  After a lengthy pause of more than 18 seconds, Poulter had the following to say:

“I don’t think he’ll finish in the top 5,” Poulter said, citing Woods’ play at the World Golf Championships at Doral four weeks ago.

“The shots he was hitting at Doral, they were very inconsistent,” Poulter said. “You can’t afford to hit shots like that on this golf course and get away with it. I don’t think you want to rely on your short game that much around this place.”

While mostly good-humored banter between the two competitors, Poulter and Woods have always taken the opportunity to send a "shot" to one another here and there, especially while on the practice green.  Recently, Poulter -- who is never short for words or in expressing his opinion-- took a low-blow at Woods while calling him "#2" while preparing for a tournament round.  Since that time Woods has fallen to No. 7 in the rankings, and probably called a lot worse by many people in the process (myself included).

There is certainly no hiding my opinion on Poulter, as I have expressed once or twice on WaggleRoom in the past.  Likewise, there is no shying away from the fact that I am a fan of Woods, despite everything that has occurred in his private life and his concurrent fall from the top of the WGR.  With that being said, however, I believe that the only Green Jacket Poulter will ever wear is one designed by his personal clothing line.