Stephen Ames, Rory Sabbatini, Woody Austin. Now, Ian Poulter.

I have enormous respect – at first – for guys who take on Tiger Woods verbally. Especially given the history of Woods’ payback on guys who diss him.

It gets tiring watching Woods dominate the legions of the meek, which consist of everyone except for him who plays professional golf.

So, when someone comes out and says he’s going to open up a can of whup-ass on El Tigre, it’s a break from the monotonous hero-worship.

Alas, they almost always become forlorn objects of public ridicule, either because Woods toasts them or they eat their words before they anger the beast.

Don’t you love how Poulter is now complaining about how he was misquoted, even though he admitted he DID NOT READ the magazine article where his quotes appeared?

Poulter didn’t so much challenge Woods as berate his fellow players, essentially saying he was the only one who could hang with the big man.

Maybe there will come a day, a great day with sunlight streaming through the autumn leaves, when a pro golfer challenges Woods verbally and then backs it up on the course.

I have a strong feeling that man won’t be Ian Poulter in his pink pants.