Ryder Cup: Padraig Harrington Wise to Choose Ian Poulter

The European side has dominated the Ryder Cup over the past decade-plus. And perhaps no player has been more instrumental to those efforts than Ian Poulter.

Poulter has been a member of the European side on six occasions (2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018). He will make it seven at the end of this month after being selected as a captain’s pick by European captain Padraig Harrington.

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In his six appearances, Poulter’s European side has a 5-1 record. The only time Poulter has been on a losing side was at Valhalla in 2008.

And it’s not just that Poulter has been on a winning team. He’s been a major factor for his Euro teams throughout the years.

In the fourball competition, Poulter has an all-time record of 4-4-1. In foursomes, he is 5-2-0.

But where he has really stood out is on Sundays.

In singles matches, Poulter is undefeated. Six times he has played and five times he has won. Only in 2014, when he halved a match with Webb Simpson, has Poulter not been a winner in singles.

In 2018, he beat Dustin Johnson 2-up. In 2012, he topped Webb Simpson by that same score. In 2010, he pounded Matt Kuchar 5 and 4.

Poulter topped Steve Stricker, who will be the U.S. captain this year, 3 and 2 in 2008. And in 2004, he cruised past Chris Riley 3 and 2.

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Perhaps even more than the winning, Poulter has proven time and again that he can get under the skin of the U.S. players. His fiery antics on the course are perfect for the Ryder Cup, whether he’s playing the role of hero in Europe or goat in the United States.

Even though he is 45 years old, Harrington made a solid choice by picking Poulter. Perhaps no player ever has turned his game up more for this competition than Poulter has. Harrington will be counting on that again this year.

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