Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Poulter thrives in social media

An exhilarating ice bath and soothing massage followed the next night, which, in turn, was followed by a dining experience that included chicken noodle soup, short ribs and mashed potatoes. The following morning gave way to a scenic reconnaissance mission at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in the hills north of Tucson.

"I find Twitter fascinating, to be able to give your fans what they normally wouldn't get at," Poulter said. "Hopefully I can go from 1.1 million to 3, 4 million people. It's just another challenge for me.

"It's crazy where technology —Facebook, Twitter and all that stuff — has taken us. It's only going to get bigger, so why not go with the ride?"

Poulter discovered how big Twitter is when he posted a photo of himself shaking hands with Prince Charles at last year's Ryder Cup. Poulter was unaware that his white Power Balance bracelet had popped out from under his tuxedo. Sales in the bracelets immediately spiked.

"You can't buy that kind of media exposure," said Poulter's agent, R.J. Nemer. "Ian didn't do it purposely. He didn't even know the bracelet was showing when he sent out the picture.

"He's so big on Twitter that his sponsor relationships have been impacted. Now, when we talk to a company, they will ask us if he will tweet about the product or the product's website. Ian doesn't do it to be a pitch man. He does it because he's authentic. He's very comfortable in his own skin, very comfortable sharing his thoughts, his experiences, his life, and I think people who follow him on Twitter sense that with him.

That includes holding contests on Twitter that result in prizes — clubs, clothing, tickets — given to his followers. And in Wednesday's opening-round match against Stewart Cink, who, by the way, has 1.2 million followers on Twitter, Poulter will wear an outfit picked by fans during the PGA Tour's "Dress Ian" campaign.

All of this social media hasn't gotten in the way of his golf game. Last year, in an all-England final against Paul Casey, Poulter earned his 13th win as a professional and first on American soil in a 4-and-2 victory. He has shined in other match-play events, especially in the 2008 and 2010 Ryder Cups. And he said his match-play prowess has had a positive effect on his stroke-play talents as he searches for his first major championship.

"I love the challenge of beating your opponent in 18 holes. I love the fact you are under pressure right from the get-go," Poulter said. "My game is in shape. I've been in the gym. I took the last two weeks off so I will be fresh. Hopefully, I will come out with all my guns blazing."

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