Ian Poulter will skip the ISPS Handa Wales Open in favour of flogging himself in the gym as he plots to make a mockery of American talk of Ryder Cup redemption.
The self-styled doyen of DayGlo has had a dismal year, but although out of form, he is in the Europe team as one of the three captain’s picks of Paul McGinley. Poulter said he would cope with the pressure and made short work of letting the United States know that he will be a manic maelstrom of tub-thumbing come Gleneagles on September 26.
“I’ll really ramp it up over these next three weeks because everyone knows how much the Ryder Cup means to me,” he said. “There’s nothing like it as far as I’m concerned, nothing that comes close to getting the passion and the juices flowing like that week. That’s why I tend to play exceptionally well with a European badge on my chest.
“There is more pressure when you get picked rather than play your way on to the team, but nobody could ever put me under more pressure than I put on myself. I wanted to make the team on merit, but now that I’ve been given a wild card it means I’ll have to try to find that bit extra to show Paul was right.”
In his past five events on the PGA Tour in the US he has missed two cuts, failed to bother the top 20 and finished equal 52nd and 58th. However, as the American wild cards started making a melodrama out of Medinah, Poulter said he would rip up the form guide and cope with any barbs about having to rely on being a pick.
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“It’s no secret that I haven’t played as well as I would have wanted, but there have been good reasons for that, mostly a succession of niggling injuries,” he said. “Now I’m looking to finish the season strong, just like I did last year. My body is in much better shape than it’s been at any time this year and I feel strong and healthy. I’ve got a fantastic physio looking after me and I’ve worked my socks off to get fit, so I’m looking to see the rewards.”
Poulter, who went into the 2008 Ryder Cup after two missed cuts in America, joins Stephen Gallacher and Lee Westwood in the team as wild cards, while Tom Watson, the US captain, has chosen Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson. While the debate about Luke Donald’s absence continues, not least because of his putting prowess, Bradley provided the Stateside perspective. “I think this is a redemption year for a lot of guys who were on the team in 2012,” he said.
McGinley asked Poulter whether he would like to follow Westwood’s method and warm up for redemption prevention at Celtic Manor. He declined. “I’m worried the weather might be bad, that it might turn into a slog, and if that happened it wouldn’t do me any good in terms of preparation,” he said. “I’ve played a lot of golf recently and I feel I can get more done in the gym and practising at home. I know how to prepare for a Ryder Cup and get it right. I told Paul that, and he said he’s got faith in me to get it right and turn up on the first tee ready to play my heart out.”
McGinley put the final pieces of his Gleneagles jigsaw in place as he named three more vice-captains. José María Olazábal, captain for the emotional win at Medinah, Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Padraig Harrington join Sam Torrance and Des Smyth as McGinley’s eyes, ears and sounding boards.
McGinley’s right-hand men
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Sam Torrance (Scotland, age 61) Likeable veteran of eight Ryder Cups as well as his 2002 stint at winning captain.
Des Smyth (Ireland, 61) Twice a Ryder Cup player and one of Ian Woosnam’s vice-captains for the win in Ireland in 2006.
José María Olazábal (Spain, 48) Hugely popular and experienced team player even before his emotional turn as captain in 2012.
Miguel Ángel Jiménez (Spain, 50) Had a decent shout of making the team after his displays this season. Close, but loads of cigars.
Padraig Harrington (Ireland, 43) McGinley’s oldest friend on tour and veteran of six Ryder Cup campaigns.
Words by Rick Broadbent