At this point in his career, Tiger Woods has reached a level of admiration that few athletes ever see.
This younger generation grew up watching him dominate, and there is a clear sense of respect for what he achieved. But it was not always so straightforward. During his playing days, Woods was part of some fierce rivalries that shaped his era.
His battles with Phil Mickelson are the most well-known. The two spent years going head-to-head for major titles. The Cypress native also clashed with others, like Sergio Garcia and Vijay Singh over the years.
There is also a current LIV Golf star who was reportedly disliked by the 15-time major winner, according to Woods’ former coach. This tension escalated when the player controversially took an uninvited ride on his private jet.
Tiger Woods banned Ian Poulter from his private plane
Ian Poulter, a skilled golfer in his own right, is known as much for his self-confidence as he is for his game. He has never been one to hold back from speaking his mind, and that edge played a big part in making him one of the Ryder Cup’s most effective players.
Despite his presence on the circuit, though, Poulter never managed to win a major championship. According to Woods’ former coach Hank Haney, the Briton fit the profile of players the 15-time major winner tended to avoid.
Haney explained: “Those he genuinely liked tended to be quiet, modest, hardworking guys like Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker, whose ability he respected but whose talent didn’t elevate them to the position of serious rival.
“He kept the super-talented at a distance. He didn’t want players who could be a threat to feel comfortable around him. He was averse to certain players, especially if he felt their records didn’t warrant all the talk. He wasn’t a fan of Ian Poulter, for example.”
Haney recalled an incident before the 2007 US Open at Oakmont when Poulter hitched a ride on Woods’ private jet. Apparently, Tiger was not pleased and made his feelings clear.
“Tiger stretched out on his regular spot, in the two seats in the front of the plane, and immediately put on his headphones. That left me to talk to Ian, which I didn’t mind because I got along with him,” he said.
Haney claimed Woods texted him about Poulter during the flight: “‘Can you believe this d–k mooched a ride on my plane?’… As far as I know, Ian didn’t get any more rides.”
Ian Poulter’s comparison with Ryder Cup legends
Woods did not like how confident Poulter was, and that confidence was clear before the 2025 Ryder Cup.
During a segment for Majesticks GC’s social media, the Englishman was asked to compare himself to other Ryder Cup players. He did not hesitate to put himself above some of the game’s most well-known names.
Asked if he considered himself better than Sergio Garcia, Poulter gave a typically cheeky grin and said yes. He also rated himself ahead of Padraig Harrington but stopped short of claiming he was above Jose María Olazabal.
His self-assessment, which places him above two major champions, perfectly illustrates why he and Woods were perpetually at odds.
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