Driverless

Call this news a case of separation anxiety.

British Open runner-up Ian Poulter pulled out of the Singapore Open after being unable to replace the driver that was stolen at the HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai, which ended on Monday.

"I am really gutted," he said Wednesday. "I have been thinking about it for four hours and I have decided to withdraw because my new driver will not arrive on time.

"It is disappointing because I did not come all this way not to play. But with so many world ranking points at stake, if I played badly [by using a different driver], I may have lost ground."

The Cobra driver, which he had used in this year's Ryder Cup at Valhalla, was snatched from his bag Saturday at the Sheshan Golf Club. Poulter, ranked No. 25 in the world, offered a reward for the club's return, and signs were posted around the club. A building camera caught an image of the robber, but he was not able to be identified.

"I'm absolutely distraught about it as I had spent months testing drivers till I found the right one," Poulter said. "Although I keep two spares, one in America and one in Europe, they just don't feel the same."

The Singapore Open starts on Thursday, but Poulter was told by the manufacturer that a replacement would not have been ready until Friday.

He's absolutely distraught over a lost golf club. One can only imagine how Ian would feel if he lost something important. Like his parking pass a loved one. I thought only US born PGA pros were spoiled till now.

By the way Morgan Pressel lost her set entire set of golf clubs in 2007 right after winning the Kraft Nabisco. Morgan didn't withdraw from any LPGA events.