I am not a quitter: Poulter hits back at slurs after his US Open exit

But back home in Milton Keynes, the colourful Englishman was not only nursing the swollen right wrist that forced him out with three holes to play of the second round at Torrey Pines, and from this week's BMW International in Munich, but also a grievance that he had been unfairly criticised.

Pain game: Ian Poulter is upset that people doubt his reason for pulling out

'People have made wrong assumptions which are fairly hurtful,' said Poulter, the world No 36. 'This is the first time I've walked off in my professional career and I'd never say I'm not playing golf any more, throw the towel in and walk in.

'That's not something I believe in. It's not over until it's over and I always try to the very death. But when you could injure yourself badly, you need to be making an exit before it happens.'

While the whole world knew Tiger Woods was suffering from the effects of knee surgery as he winced through 91 painful holes on his way to the greatest of his 14 majors before being forced to quit for the rest of the year, few were aware of Poulter's handicap.

One of his playing partners in America, Ryder Cup team-mate Paul Casey, did confirm the injury, but the widespread theory was that Poulter, 32, had simply flounced off in a fit of pique when destined to miss the cut, having dropped seven shots in four holes.

The long-standing weakness in his right wrist, for which he performs daily strengthening exercises, flared up after he played tennis with Justin Rose in Orlando, Florida, the week before the US Open. The extent of the injury became apparent during a practice round five days before the tournament, when he stopped on the 11th hole to call for anti-inflammatory tablets.

In the next four days he played only nine holes of practice, icing the swelling 15 times a day. But he had no thoughts of withdrawing from the event.

'I had a similar problem at the Masters where I took a lot of antiinflammatories and had a lot of work done on my wrist,' he said. 'I was in the top 10 there on the Saturday (he finished 25th) and I was hoping I could get through like I did at Augusta. The difference this time was the six inchdeep kikuyu grass.'

Pilloried for a magazine article in which he claimed that world No 1 Woods was the only player better than him, Poulter acknowledges that he attracts reaction through his outspoken views and flamboyant clothing.

'I've had a rough year and most of the criticism has been unjust,' he said. 'I'm very honest and I speak my mind. The one time I didn't (last weekend) I got hammered. So I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. But I'm not going to become a hermit and not talk to anyone, even if I'm being pushed that way.'