IJP

[patricks148]

I was more referring to the actual tour pro's who turn pro after college on the American courses off +4 - I've not come across many assistant pro's that got down to that level before working in the shop! The ones that I've known from that level have generally (or are about to) go over to the US to make sure they're ready for the pro ranks proper. There are of course always exceptions to the rule though!

And I'm not sure he would get down to +7/+8, even on normal club courses. I just don't think he's consistent enough, and you'd have to be shooting 62-65 every round to maintain that sort of handicap, which even the top tour pro's would struggle with.

You're right though. Something's definitely up with him at the moment. He is a much better player than his current form is showing and hope that he turns a corner soon. The weird threats/challenges for people to play him for money on twitter can't be helping and I can't help thinking it might help him out to just shut out the rest of the world for a while. Get off t'internet, don't do any interviews and just get the game sorted

There was an interview quit recent with him and the whole question of the 4 handicap came up.

He said tha he did indeed turn pro at 4 as per the PGA course rule, but in the time he was taking the course 2 or 3 years the Pro he worked for would not let him enter and Asst Pro comps, so he had best part of those years just practicing. when he actually started playing those comps said he was closer to +4 than 4.

 

[jimbob.someroo]

There was an interview quit recent with him and the whole question of the 4 handicap came up.

He said tha he did indeed turn pro at 4 as per the PGA course rule, but in the time he was taking the course 2 or 3 years the Pro he worked for would not let him enter and Asst Pro comps, so he had best part of those years just practicing. when he actually started playing those comps said he was closer to +4 than 4.

Which is fair enough, and I don't doubt it. But if anything it further strengthens the argument about him not getting to the level of some of the other tour pro's before making the jump. The sort of tourney's you play in when you're off +something rarely let you score stupidly low (things like the British amateur etc). There's a great deal of difference between him playing to +4 when he goes out for a knock or playing in the club weekly medal, when compared with consistently shooting those numbers in major amateur championships.

Like I said in an earlier post, if he was to turn amateur again now, I'd have no doubt that he'd be off +4 or whatever. But IMO, he's improved over the last 5 or so years, to the level that a lot of the guys were when they actually turned professional. Albeit, with the ability to shoot some fantastic rounds on occasion - and a superhuman ability under pressure in the Ryder Cup.

 

[patricks148]

Which is fair enough, and I don't doubt it. But if anything it further strengthens the argument about him not getting to the level of some of the other tour pro's before making the jump. The sort of tourney's you play in when you're off +something rarely let you score stupidly low (things like the British amateur etc). There's a great deal of difference between him playing to +4 when he goes out for a knock or playing in the club weekly medal, when compared with consistently shooting those numbers in major amateur championships.

Like I said in an earlier post, if he was to turn amateur again now, I'd have no doubt that he'd be off +4 or whatever. But IMO, he's improved over the last 5 or so years, to the level that a lot of the guys were when they actually turned professional. Albeit, with the ability to shoot some fantastic rounds on occasion - and a superhuman ability under pressure in the Ryder Cup.

yeah but you are mixing up a top am with a guy that was going to be selling mars bars and giving lessons. By the sound of things once he started doing well in the assistant pro events then moved on to other things, euro pro etc. a top am turning pro is not the same as signing up for the PGA course.

I 'm not a fan of IJP, but you can't fault his self belief and faith in he own ability. letsface it there's been plenty of top Am who where tipped for great things and played in walker cups and never made it.

 

[jimbob.someroo]

I 'm not a fan of IJP, but you can't fault his self belief and faith in he own ability. letsface it there's been plenty of top Am who where tipped for great things and played in walker cups and never made it.

Agreed entirely

 

[patricks148]

Agreed entirely

I would say f anything its been harder for him to get where he is.

Unknown Asst pro, black plimsol tour, win a few of then, then the Green flash tour, win a couple, euro pop tour a few high place and a win . Q school. get to play a couple of events.

Top Am, sponsers invite european tour one foul swoop.

PS the black plimsol tour is made up but you get the idea

 

[Tommo21]

How can he be so good at the Ryder Cup and then be so rubbish in REAL competition.

Regarding the Twitter thing, he does tend to rub people the wrong way with some tweets. But what was bang out of order was when he was ripping into a guy(without the guys knowledge), he was sitting next to at a basketball game. You man up and tell him face to face. Don't be a 'feline' about it. :smirk:

You cant be rubbish at real competition and win what he's won......that is rubbish. He also gets some serious stick on twitter and shut down his account for a while. He just says what he wants to say and thats fine by me. I know he's changed some gear this year and I don't think it's helping much. Oh, if the Ryder cup is not real competition then I don't know what planet you've been on. Is golf all about majors

 

[Fader]

I'm a big fan of Poults and like his brash approach and says what he thinks and believes it.

Regardless of what his handicap was when he turned pro you don't achieve tour wins and Ryder cup appearances without game and talent. He may not be a great ball striker but then that just highlights how good other parts of his game are to get where he has. Think he's done to much off the course and taken his eye off the ball so to speak, he has done even more with the IJP brand and said he was doing a lot of gym work to and with his frame probably not used to that.

He'll be back knocking in Putts ready for Gleneagles 2014

 

[triple_bogey]

Oh, if the Ryder cup is not real competition then I don't know what planet you've been on. Is golf all about majors

Seems to be the theme with this forum. I expect a man like yourself of many years to have understanding. Maybe I was wrong...... ITS MY OPINION. Even the great man himself, Jack has stated the Ryder Cup to be just an exhibition. A statement I fully agree on. What is wrong with that?? I know now, apparently I'm not from this planet. :rofl:

I'm confident, Colin Montgomerie would give his left nut to have won Majors than have a great Ryder Cup record.