Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter sends scary message to European team after LIV Golf snobbery

Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter sends scary message to European team after LIV Golf snobbery

Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter has sent a message of support to Team Europe after the LIV golfer was denied the chance to make an eighth appearance at the tournament.

Poulter has been a key player on European Ryder Cup teams over the past two decades, competing in seven of the last nine tournaments and providing many memorable moments.

The Englishman was nicknamed “the postman” for his ability to score points for his team, especially in 2012, when his heroic performance inspired a famous comeback on final competition in Europe in Medinah.

However, the 47-year-old is ineligible for selection for this year’s tournament in Rome, which begins on Friday, due to his decision to take part in LIV Golf.

Despite his painful omission, Poulter still sent messages of support on X, formerly Twitter:
“Before all the fun and action begins in Europe against America, I wish all the boys the best of luck in Rome this weekend and hope they can pick up the trophy and bring it back to Europe. Europe. “The team looks young, energetic and incredibly experienced, which is a great combination.”

Poulter joined the Saudi Arabia-backed tour in 2022 and later resigned from his DP World Tour membership after being fined multiple times by the now-defunct European Tour.

Without membership he could not have been selected, and LIV stars and Ryder Cup legends Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood also missed this year’s tournament.

Poulter and Garcia still exert an influence on this week’s proceedings, after world number three Jon Rahm revealed he sought advice from both ahead of the biennial competition.

“Garcia showed me a lot of things to do at Whistling [Straits in 2021] and Paris [in 2018],” Rahm said. “I chatted a bit with him and Poulter as well. “It won’t be easy to fill the roles that these two play both on and off the golf course, but [I] just [want] to hear from them about what they’re thinking and what they consider invaluable information .”

Meanwhile, Team Europe member Rory McIlroy believes the LIV rebels may regret their decision when they see this week’s developments.

“I mean, it was definitely a little strange not having them there,” he said in his pre-tournament press conference.

“But I think this week of all weeks, they’re going to realize that, you know, they’re not here, and I think they’re going to miss being here more than we miss them.

“More than that, I think this week was a realization that the decision they made led to them not participating this week, and that was difficult.”