Bubba Watson gives insight into what it was actually like to face Ian Poulter at the Ryder Cup

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Bubba Watson has a wealth of experience in the Ryder Cup, having represented the United States on four occasions, and the same can be said for Ian Poulter who was a stalwart for the European team for nearly two decades.

Watson was not actually hugely successful in the Ryder Cup, winning four and losing 10 of the 14 matches he played.

However, Ian Poulter possesses a truly fantastic record in the Ryder Cup, and is one of the most fearsome competitors ever to take part in the competition.

Poulter always took the fight to the American Ryder Cup fans when playing away from home, and in some ways, he gained more respect for that.

Meanwhile, Watson was a more reserved character on the golf course, although still an incredibly competitive one.

Back in 2016, Watson proved how selfless he is ahead of the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine by urging captain Davis Love III to pick Ryan Moore instead of him.

Now a player on LIV Golf, the 46-year-old has not been in contention to feature at the Ryder Cup since his last appearance in 2018.

However, he is still very interested in seeing how the event pans out at Bethpage Black this year.

Poulter will not be at Bethpage either, at least not in a playing capacity. That’s a shame for European fans and the Ryder Cup in general, because he always brought such pizzazz to proceedings.

But what was the Englishman really like to play against in the biennial competition?

Bubba Watson says what it was like to face Ian Poulter at the Ryder Cup

Watson came up against Poulter three times at the Ryder Cup throughout the years, all in foursomes matches – once in 2010, once in 2012 and once in 2018.

The Englishman got the better of the American in all three match-ups.

Poulter just had a knack of saving his best form for the Ryder Cup, and he managed to get the better of numerous American players in the competition throughout the years.

When speaking on the Dan on Golf YouTube channel, Watson responded when asked what it was like to come up against Poulter at the Ryder Cup.

The LIV golfer said: “It’s amazing. His focus, his determination is by far the greatest I have seen through the years.

“This is what he lives for, right? Golf and sports for us is more about individuals in the United States, that’s how I feel.

“There are some elite teams in certain sports but we always talk about the quarterback or we talk about a home run hitter, or we talk about the individual who made the win for that team for the Super Bowl Championship or the NBA Championship.

“In golf it’s individual but overseas I feel like it’s all about the team. They grow up with different team sports, which focus on the team, and when it comes to the Ryder Cup, that’s all they care about.”

Ian Poulter’s incredible Ryder Cup record

Judging by Watson’s comments, it’s no surprise that Poulter possesses such a wonderful record at the Ryder Cup.

Here are his results throughout his seven appearances for Team Europe in the competition:

Poulter’s singles record is particularly impressive, with six wins and one half point to his name in his seven appearances at the Ryder Cup.

He lived and breathed for the Ryder Cup and his determination, spirit and fight more than made up for his obvious limitations off the tee.

Poulter will go down in history as one of the all-time Ryder Cup greats; that statement cannot be disputed.