1:53 PM PT -- Poulter spoke with TMZ Sports about the infamous toot ... and the dude's got jokes!!
UPDATE
"I guess it's one way to protect social distancing!" Poulter said.
UPDATE
HILARIOUS!!!
UPDATE
Poulter also told us he can't guarantee this will be the last time a camera catches him farting on the course ... although he did say he'd try to be more careful about it next time.
CALL OFF THE FART PROBE -- Ian Poulter is admitting guilt!
The pro golfer has essentially copped to ripping a tremendous ass blast during a televised golf tourney this weekend ... and yeah, the video is just as hilarious as it sounds!
Ever seen a dude hit a golf ball 428 yards off the tee ... but bogey?!?!
PGA Tour star Bryson DeChambeau just did exactly that at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut ... and the scene was WILD!!!
Check out video of DeChambeau's nuke of a drive at the 10th tee Friday ... he crushed it -- and then got about 100 yards of fortunate roll down a cart path.
PGA star Brooks Koepka has elected to back out of the Travelers Championship tournament this week ... after his caddie tested positive for the coronavirus.
Ricky Elliott reportedly tested positive Wednesday morning at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut ... just 48 hours after testing negative for the virus.
"I’m going to pull out to protect everybody else. I think it’s the right thing to do." Koepka -- the #4-ranked golfer in the world -- said.
"I don’t want to risk anyone’s life if they have respiratory issues or underlying conditions. The only way this Tour can continue is if guys do this sort of thing and be proactive about it."
Koepka had been isolating at a rented home in Connecticut ... and may leave the area if his GF Jena Sims and personal chef test positive as well.
PGA Tour stud Nick Watney was forced to withdraw from this week's RBC Heritage tournament after testing positive for COVID-19 ... officials announced Friday.
Watney, who played in the first day of the South Carolina tourney on Thursday, woke up feeling ill Friday ... and, according to PGA Tour reps, tested positive shortly after.
FYI, the Tour tested EVERYBODY prior to the start of the week's tournament ... with all results -- including Watney's -- coming back negative.
The Tour says Watney will now have to undergo strict quarantine and isolation rules to eventually return to action ... and says it's taking precautions for everyone and everything that might have come in contact with Nick at this week's event.
"Nick will have the PGA TOUR’s full support throughout his self-isolation and recovery period under CDC guidelines," Tour officials said in a statement.
Watney played with Vaughn Taylor and Luke List in Thursday's opening round ... but neither golfer has withdrawn -- with both dudes still currently in the middle of their Friday rounds.
Watney -- who shot a 3-over 74 on Thursday -- is the first PGA Tour player to test positive for coronavirus.
The PGA Tour will NOT have 8:46 AM tee times this week ... the golf org just announced it'll hold moments of silence instead -- and it's all to honor George Floyd.
The Tour said in a statement Tuesday the tributes will go down in its return to the national spotlight this weekend at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday through Sunday.
"As the PGA Tour commits to amplifying the voices and efforts underway to end systemic issues of racial and social injustices impacting our country," Tour officials said, "we have reserved the 8:46 a.m. tee time at the Charles Schwab Challenge to pay our respects to the memory of George Floyd."
"We will pause at 8:46 a.m. during each round for a moment of silence, prayer and reflection."
It's a big honor ... this weekend's tournament -- the first official one since the coronavirus pandemic suspended play back in March -- is expected to draw potentially millions of eyeballs.
Stars like Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka are all listed as participants ... and according to the Tour, they'll all pause at 8:46 AM for the moment silence following three horn blasts from Tour officials.
As we previously reported ... Floyd died on May 25 after police officers knelt on his back and neck for 8:46 seconds.
He was laid to rest at a funeral in Texas on Tuesday.
John Daly says he can fix Tom Brady's golf issues -- telling TMZ Sports with just one lesson, the new Tampa Bay QB could hit it 100 yards farther off the tee!!
"I'm down in Clearwater," Daly says, "he's a Buc now, so if he wants to come out, we'll go play golf or I'll meet him -- I can help him in 10 minutes!"
Tom's biggest problem, according to Daly? It's all about the driver ... John tells us Tom's refusal to use one because of lack of confidence in the club is KILLING the QB's scores.
"That's the easiest club in the bag to hit," Daly says. "It's the biggest face in your bag. And, somebody's not helping him. We need to get his driver right. We got to give him a driver."
Now, on the tee ... the favorite for the 2028 Masters -- John Daly II?!?!
Don't be surprised if that's a real thing later this decade ... 'cause John Daly tells TMZ Sports his 16-year-old son has golf superstar written all over him!!!
"I can't keep up with him now," Daly says. "He hits it so far. He pummels it. He's flying it about 300, 305 [yards] now."
Papa Daly ain't lying ... his son really does have the golf goods -- he just finished in second place at a major tournament this week.
In fact, the younger Daly tore up the course ... shooting just a 4-over par at the same Crooked Stick Golf Club in Indiana where his dad won the 1991 PGA Championship.
"He's got it in him," Daly says. "We'll see how college goes and we'll see how it goes. But, he hits it, man. He's got that sound. It's that sound of a swish in basketball. Or, that perfect pass on a post pattern. That tennis racket hitting it solid every time."
"He hits it solid every time. It's a sound that a lot of people in golf don't have. And, he's had it since he was about 8."
Daly -- who's still a hell of a golfer even at 54 years old -- says his son now beats him from time to time on the course ... and he's clearly proud as hell of where his kid's golf career is headed.
"[He can be] as good as he wants to be," Daly says. "His short game is so phenomenal."
The lefty sure as hell wouldn't mind seeing it ... because Phil says he's trying to make "The Match" an annual event now -- hoping to get guys like MJ and Steph Curry to participate in 2021.
“I think you could showcase guys like Steph Curry and Michael Jordan or Tony Romo and Patrick Mahomes, who are all good golfers, elite talents and have great personalities," Mickelson told the LA Times after "The Match II's" wild success over the weekend.
"Those personalities are going to come out with this event. Or you could have someone who loves the game and is competitive but is really entertaining like Larry David and Bill Murray. I think that could shine.”
Of course, the possibilities seem endless right now ... given just how big of a success the Woods-Peyton Manning vs. Mickelson-Tom Brady outing went on Sunday.
According to multiple reports, MILLIONS of people tuned in to watch the event ... ultimately making it the most-watched cable broadcast in the sport's history.
Phil, Tiger and event organizers are all on board to run it back next year ... and it doesn't seem there will be a shortage of celebs lining up to join the golf legends -- in fact, Curry even tweeted during the event he wants in next year.
Soooooo ... Tiger and Steph vs. MJ and Phil in 2021??
Two alligators violently fought it out on a South Carolina golf course ... and the footage of the two beasts locking jaws and tossing each other around is INSANE!!
Check out video posted by The Golf Club at Hilton Head Lakes in Hardeeville, SC ... where two gators were caught in a crazy tussle right on one of the fairways.
According to course officials, the action all went down last week on the 18th hole ... when one golfer captured the wild scene.
You can see in the vid ... the two gators bit into each other's faces -- and wouldn't let go, even after they violently twisted!!!
And, if the action caught on video wasn't crazy enough for you -- a witness says the battle went on for roughly 2 HOURS!!
Thankfully, nobody was hurt during the on-course action ... but it's unclear if golfers' scores survived the melee as well.
Pro golfer Brooks Koepka had said he’d donate $100,000 if Tom made par on the front 9 — and that shot did the trick! So, it wasn’t just a highlight, it helped raise a ton of cash!
HERE WE GOOO!!!!
The biggest golf event of the year is finally underway ... with Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning facing off against Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady in "The Match" -- a COVID-19 charity golf showdown in Florida.
The whole thing was up in the air earlier Sunday morning ... with a massive rainstorm delaying the big event.
And, if golfing in the rain sounds like a fun time ... it definitely doesn't look like it.
The star-studded lineup just hit the links at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound for a fan-less affair ... braving the weather for the showdown.
Of course, Phil and Tiger faced off back in 2018 with Lefty coming out on top ... but adding the 2 Hall of Fame QBs will be sure to make things a lot more interesting in the tag-team format.
And, for those looking to tune in on the action, Charles Barkley is on board as an analyst for the Turner broadcast ... as if you needed any more reason to check it out.
FYI -- Peyton is reportedly a 6.4 handicap, while Tom is reportedly an 8.1 ... for those interested in putting some dough on the showdown.
BTW -- Tiger's wearing his Sunday Red ... so be ready for an EPIC performance.
Golf superstar Rory McIlroy says he's been REJECTING opportunities to play with President Trump "out of choice" ... claiming he doesn't agree with "anything" POTUS has been saying recently.
Remember, Rory and The Donald played a round of golf at Trump International in Florida together back in 2017 ... a move he defended as not "an endorsement nor a political statement of any kind."
While Rory praised Trump for being "charismatic" and "nice" on 'The McKellar' podcast this week ... he admits he will not hit the links with him again, despite several opportunities.
"Most people that he came across that day he was cordial to, he was nice and personable," McIlroy says. "That was my only interaction with him the day I had with him."
"But, that doesn’t mean that I agree with everything -- or in fact, anything -- that he says."
McIlroy then went IN on his former golf buddy for his handling of the coronavirus ... saying he's using the pandemic for his own political gain.
"We’re in the midst of something that’s pretty serious right now and the fact that he’s trying to politicize it and make it a campaign rally and say we’re administering the most tests in the world like it is a contest -- there’s something that just is terrible," McIlroy says.
"It’s not the way a leader should act. There’s a sort of diplomacy that you need to have, and I don’t think he’s showing that ... especially in these times."
Rory -- the #1-ranked golfer in the world -- says he wouldn't golf with Trump again if he had the chance ... but admits he probably won't get another opportunity.
"I don’t know if he’d want to play with me again after what I just said. But no, I wouldn't."
Four of the biggest names in pro golf are gearing up for a 2-on-2 skins game in Florida this weekend ... and IT WILL AIR ON LIVE TV!!
YES, PRO GOLF IS BACK ... SORTA!!!
Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson will take on Rickie Fowler and Matt Wolff on Sunday at the legendary Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach ... with all of the winnings going to charity.
Of course, with the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing, there will be social distancing protocols in place ... no caddies and no carts!
The event, called the "TaylorMade Driving Relief" competition -- airing on NBC and The Golf Channel -- will follow the classic "Skins" format.
In other words, each hole is played separately -- with a cash prize for each hole. If there is a tie on a hole, the "skin" is carried over to the next one (and the next and the next and so on) until someone wins.
The first 6 holes will be worth $50,000 each. The next 10 holes will be worth $100,000, the 17th hole will be worth $200,000, and the final hole will be worth $500,000.
Each team will also begin with $500,000.
McIlroy and Johnson will play for the American Nurses Foundation, and Fowler and Wolff will play for the CDC Foundation, according to Golf.com.
Big news from Eric Trump... Donald's son has just announced the family is reopening Trump golf courses in L.A. and Miami with new COVID-19 restrictions.
"We are very excited that Trump National Golf Club, Los Angeles and Trump Doral in Miami are reopened," Trump said.
"The courses are absolutely impeccable and our teams are waiting for you!"
Eric -- the executive vice president of the Trump Organization -- also encouraged golfers to call the clubs directly to reserve tee times.
California, Florida and a handful of others are allowing golf courses to operate during the pandemic ... as long as there are strict social distancing protocols in effect.
For example, at both Trump courses players are not allowed to share golf carts -- one rider per vehicle.
Plus, all ball washers and bunker rakes have been removed from the courses so players aren't touching the same, shared equipment.
In other words ... just be smart, keep your distance, wash and sanitize your hands and you can golf your face off.
President Trump has said multiple times he REALLY wants pro sports back in America -- and reopening his own golf courses seem to be a big step in that direction.
"The tournament had to be in Florida after Tom's [breaking and entering] arrest. With the ankle monitor, he couldn't leave the state."
Peyton Manning just ROASTED Tom Bradyover his bungled April visit to Byron Leftwich's house ... and seriously, the clip is the funniest thing you'll see all day!!
Manning, Brady, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelsonall joined Ernie Johnson on Thursday to preview their charity golf match set for May 24 in Hobe Sound, Fla. ... and it didn't take long for the zingers to start flying.
Brady hit Manning with a joke about Archie Manning ... saying, "I actually thought I was going to be Tiger's partner. But then Peyton's dad called and switched the teams."
Funny, right!?!
Manning laughed ... and then dropped a HAMMER on the NFL's G.O.A.T. in return -- deciding to bust Brady's balls for accidentally barging into a Tampa resident's home last month!!
"Tiger and I talked to the sheriff in Tampa," Manning said, "[Tom's] going to be allowed to go to Palm Beach to play."
Of course, Brady took the ribbing in stride ... he cracked up over the jokes -- and even wrote on social media after, "Sorry not sorry..."
Can you believe we'll get hours of this on a golf course in less than three weeks?!?!
Gov. Ron DeSantis is bragging about opening up sports in FL -- and believes fans might be able to attend events as early as June!!
While speaking to the media about the state's plan to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, DeSantis talked about how sports are a huge priority for him ... starting with pro wrestling.
"I helped recruit," DeSantis said ... "I wanted the wrestling to be filmed in Orlando. I’d like them to do WrestleMania. They were going to do WrestleMania in April. That was hundreds of millions of dollars. I want to keep that good relationship. I want them to invest in Florida."
DeSantis also mentioned UFC 249 taking place in Jacksonville on may 9 -- noting, "There's not going to be any fans but I think that's going to be a good event for people."
As for golf ... "I work with Phil Mickelson so they have what they need for that Tiger Woods match."
Event officials have not formally announced the venue for that match, but DeSantis is obviously lobbying hard for a course in FL.
As for baseball ... DeSantis says he's "hearing" it's coming back soon and obviously wants games in Florida.
"I think that's going to be exciting for a lot of people and I just think there are going to be a lot of possibilities. So, let's just be resourceful and creative."
And fans? DeSantis is optimistic fans will be able to watch live sports again in his state in a matter of months.
"I do think if the trends are good as you get into June-July. I think there is a window to have some fans. You’re not going to have everyone packed in."
"But man, in 90-degree weather in the state of Florida ... if you're out there and someone's 10 feet away from you and you want to watch a ball game or something? You may be able to do that."
He added, "We're going to be driven by the facts, driven by the data" -- but the bottom line, he WANTS this, badly.
Golfers in Florida are back on the tee box ... several courses in the state reopened Wednesday -- and people are flocking in droves to the fairways with masks on!!
Parks in Palm Beach County have eased up lockdown rules as the state shows improvement amid the coronavirus pandemic ... and it didn't take long for residents to get their hacks in.
Check out photos from courses in the Miami area just minutes after they opened back up ... a TON of golfers came out to play -- but it's clear, restrictions are still in place.
Staffers sprayed down range balls with disinfectant and wore gloves ... many people kept at least 6 feet from each other ... and nearly everyone had some sort of face covering.
As for the demand to play ... one course official in the area told the Palm Beach Post this week, "I don't think there has been a moment when the phone hasn't had three lines coming in."
More courses in the state are expected to open up next week -- but remember, PLEASE BE SAFE!!!