'P***ed off' golf star Ian Poulter slams British Airways for losing his clubs at Heathrow in a mid-flight rant on his way to playing in Texas

Ian Poulter has slammed British Airways as he claimed that the airline left his baggage - containing his golf clubs - behind at Heathrow Airport, as he flew out to Texas for the next LIV Golf event. 

The 48-year-old is due to tee off on Thursday alongside his Majesticks GC team-mates at the Golf Club of Houston, in the league's first event in a month.

But after taking off from Heathrow Airport, Poulter was informed that his golf bag containing his clubs was not on the same flight.

A furious Poulter took to Instagram to vent at the airline, as he also claimed that one of his team-mate's bags had also been left behind. 

In his post, he said: '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.'

His post on his Instagram story was over a message alleged to be from British Airways in which they said they 'regret to inform that a bag has not travelled with you today,' and asking for Poulter to get in touch to arrange a delivery. 

In a second post to his Instagram story in which he took a selfie of himself not looking very impressed, he said: 'Talk about p***ed off @British_Airways.

'The golf bag wasn't over weight. I took it to over size and scanned it and watched it go down the belt. #Pathetic.'

Poulter clearly had a tracker on the bag, as a follow-up post then pointed out a map of where it was, which was somewhere near Terminal 5. 

A fourth post on the matter then suggested that Henrik Stenson's bag had also been left behind.

He said: '@British_Airways just for the record there are @henrikstenson gof clubs as well. You might as well find those as well whilst your looking for mine. The only thing you guys do very well is charge for flying.'

Stenson didn't take to social media to complain about any bags that were missing. 

Poulter had appeared to be in a good mood before discovering his bags were left behind, after posting a number of pictures to his Instagram story. 

One included a selfie where he said he was: 'Heading to Houston'.

He also posted about it being a 'good job' he had some earphones as 'the guy in front is snoring so loud it's permanent turbulence.'

This week's LIV Golf event is the first of two to take place in the United States, with Poulter due to be playing at The Grove in Nashville, Tennessee, in two weeks time. 

The US Open falls between the two tournaments, but Poulter has not taken part in the competition since 2021.