Ian Poulter's Clubs Go Missing, Hampering LIV Golf Debut

Golfer Ian Poulter's clubs failed to make it on his flight to Texas for this weekend's LIV Golf event, leaving him without anything to play with. He has expressed frustration with British Airways for the mishap.

Professional golfer Ian Poulter is facing a major setback at the start of his LIV Golf career, as his golf clubs have gone missing after a flight to Texas for this weekend's event.

Poulter, 48, traveled from Heathrow Airport to Texas earlier this week but arrived at his destination without his essential equipment. Mid-flight, the airline sent him an email informing him that "a bag has not traveled with you today."

The British golfer took to Instagram to vent his frustration, writing, "FFS @british_airways so disappointing. I checked in 2 hours 30 minutes before the flight. What could possibly be the excuse. Just received the email 3 hours into the flight. I wouldn't have bothered flying if you're not sending my golf clubs. Can't swing fresh air."

Poulter added that the issue was not related to overweight luggage, as he had taken the clubs to the oversized baggage check-in and witnessed them being placed on the belt.

"Talk about p---ed off @british_airways. The golf bag wasn't over weight," he said in another post. "I took it to over size and scanned it and watched it go down the belt. #Pathetic."

Poulter also revealed that Henrik Stenson's clubs were also missing in transit. "You might as well find those as well whilst your [sic] looking for mine. The only thing you guys do very well is charge for flying," he wrote.

British Airways has been contacted for comment on the incident.

The LIV Golf event at the Golf Club of Houston is scheduled for this weekend, followed by the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. After the major, LIV's schedule will resume with an event in Nashville at The Grove.

Poulter's absence from LIV Golf this weekend marks a significant setback for the league, which has been criticized for luring players away from established tours like the PGA Tour. Poulter, a five-time Ryder Cup participant, is one of the recognizable names to join LIV Golf.

Poulter's clubs are essential for his play, as they allow him to precisely control the distance and trajectory of his shots. Without them, he will be severely handicapped in the upcoming LIV Golf event.

The missing clubs also raise questions about the logistics and efficiency of British Airways' baggage handling services. Travelers rely on airlines to transport their luggage safely and efficiently, and such incidents can cause inconvenience and frustration.