Ian Poulter To Play Summer In Europe To Boost Ryder Cup Bid

The Englishman heads back to Europe for the summer to cement his place in the Ryder Cup team

Ian Poulter To Play Summer In Europe To Boost Ryder Cup Bid
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Englishman will base himself in Europe this summer to earn both World and European Ryder Cup points

Ian Poulter To Play Summer In Europe To Boost Ryder Cup Bid

Ian Poulter will base himself in Europe over the summer months to boost his Ryder Cup hopes for Le Golf National in September.

The five-time Ryder Cup player missed 2016's match due to injury so was as a Vice-Captain to Darren Clarke as Europe lost 17-11 at Hazeltine.

He famously inspired the European side to victory at Medinah in 2012, where he birdied the final five holes on the Saturday to close the deficit to four points with a day to go.

He then beat Webb Simpson 2up in the singles as Europe won 14.5-13.5.

The Englishman is currently outside of the automatic qualification places but his victory at the Shell Houston Open propelled him into the world's top 50 and has qualified him for the year's final three majors and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational before the Ryder Cup.

Ian Poulter wins Houston Open and earns Masters start

Poulter made a clutch birdie on the 72nd hole and then beat Beau Hossler in a playoff to win the Houston Open. It was his first ever strokeplay victory in the USA and first win anywhere since November 2012

His Houston win has also helped his chances of reaching the FedEx Cup finale at the Tour Championship at East Lake.

"It's a massive goal,'' he said of making the Ryder Cup.

"It's on my mind. I really need to focus hard on the next three months, four months, big European push. Obviously there's a lot of points to play for in Europe. So I'm really trying to focus on making sure I make that team and don't have to be a [captain's] pick.''

By teeing it up on the European Tour from now until the Ryder Cup, Poulter can accrue both World Points (from the world rankings) and European Points (from the European Tour events).

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"It's important but it's not important,'' Poulter said. "My season this year is going to really be focused about playing great golf. There's an event late September which means a lot to me, and obviously I'm going to want to put myself in that position. So after this week I'll head back to Europe. I'm going to base myself in Europe for the summer."

The 42-year-old will play in next week's BMW PGA Championship and then the Italian Open the week after, both of which are Rolex Series events.

He will then play in the US Open at Shinnecock Hills before returning to his home continent for the French, Irish and Scottish Opens before The Open at Carnoustie.

2018 european ryder cup team

His performance at Medinah in 2012 will go down in history as one of the best

The French, Irish and Scottish Opens are all Rolex Series events and his appearance in the French Open will see him play the Ryder Cup course at Le Golf National. A win there would all but secure a spot on the team.

That leaves him with the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, USPGA Championship and FedEx Cup Playoffs prior to the Ryder Cup.

Poulter is currently one place outside of the automatic qualification in the World Points list and well back in the European Points list, although he will hope to climb that considerably with some good showings on the European Tour this summer.

Four players each qualify through the World and European Points lists along with four wildcard picks.

If he fails to qualify automatically, it will be hard for Thomas Bjorn to look past him after winning the Houston Open and re-finding his form in the past couple of years.

He dropped to 197th in the world last May and currently sits at 28th.

Do you think Ian Poulter will make the European Ryder Cup Team? Let us know on our social channels

The Ryder Cup takes place from 28-30th September.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV