WATCH: Ian Poulter oozes confidence in classic Ryder Cup interview

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James Richardson
October 24, 2023

Ian Poulter didn’t lack confidence heading into the final session of the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Poulter drew Matt Kuchar in his singles match, the fifth match out on the course on the Monday of a weather-hit Ryder Cup weekend at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales.

Kuchar was the lone American without a loss that week but Poulter calmly guaranteed a point for Europe.

“I’m playing well. I’m looking forward to it,” Poulter said.

“I live for the Ryder Cup. That’s why I’m here. And I will deliver a point.”

The Sky Sports interviewer asked: “You’re very confident, you’re absolutely convinced you’re going to win?”

“I’ll deliver a point,” Poulter said.

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Poulter was nicknamed the Postman after he emphatically delivered said point for Europe in 2010 with a 5&4 win over Kuchar.

The Englishman hasn’t been able to account for the way he would always up his game for the Ryder Cup.

He did say that matchplay is much simpler than a traditional tournament and it was easy to get pumped up in the Ryder Cup environment.

“I’ve never really sat down to try and evaluate how that happens and why that happens,” Poulter said.

“It’s just a very simple form of golf.”

Poulter was part of five Ryder Cup-winning European teams but missed out on selection for the 2023 event after joining LIV Golf.

Ryder Cup veterans Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood also missed out with Rory McIlroy admitting it was strange not to have the trio around.

“It’s certainly a little strange not having them around,” said McIlroy.

“But I think this week of all weeks it’s going to hit home with them they are not here. They are going to miss being here more than we’re missing them.

“This week is a realisation that the decision that they made has led to not being a part of this week and that’s tough. The landscape in golf is ever-changing and more dynamic and we’ll see what happens and whether they will be part of it in the future.

“I always thought leading up to this week is when it’s going to hit home that they are not going to be here.”

The absence of the trio left Justin Rose as the oldest player in Team Europe.

Rose feels that Poulter, Garcia and Westwood can still offer value to the Ryder Cup team if things change but added that the Ryder Cup team’s future was bright given the young talent emerging.

“Obviously Westy, Poults, as captains or vice captains or however they may or may not be involved in the future, they do have a lot to offer, of course, from experiences and that point of view,” Rose said.

“But the more we can kind of blood the younger generation coming through, the quicker you’re going to kind of skip through that transition phase.

“I think my job as one of the experienced players on the team is to have an open-door policy. If I just make them feel comfortable enough that they want to ask a question, let’s hear it and I’ll do my best to give some type of perspective.

“But I think until that point, just let them roll and I think that’s what they bring to the team, and that’s why they are a very important aspect to the team and I think this team has a beautiful blend to it because of that.”

Ian Poulter Ryder Cup