One of the biggest disappointments from Ian Poulter’s decision to join LIV Golf in 2022 was the fact that it appeared to bring the curtain down on his Ryder Cup career.
Of course, the likes of Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood made the kind of contributions in the Ryder Cup that meant that they deserved, if possible, to know when they were playing in the competition for the final time. They were both aware that Whistling Straits in 2021 may be the end, but they would have still harboured hopes of being in Rome in 2023.
However, their decisions to jump ship to LIV Golf led to the pair being amongst those who resigned their memberships from the DP World Tour. And with that, they were not involved at Marco Simone.
But it does seem that the pathway is open for LIV players now. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will almost certainly be at Bethpage in 2025. Meanwhile, Luke Donald has spoken to Sergio Garcia about the Spaniard regaining his DP World Tour membership. Garcia has indeed taken steps to return to the fold next year.
Ian Poulter suggests whether he plans to pay the fines which would open the door to a Ryder Cup return
So could Poulter do the same? Speaking to Matt Vincenzi, the Englishman suggested that he has little intention of making himself available in 2025 as he was asked about the prospect of being a future captain or vice-captain.
“It has been an interesting last two or three years. As it stands today I am not a member of the European Tour, so I am not eligible to become captain or vice captain. So until that position changes you can only really play the hypothetical game of how I really feel up until that point. It’s very difficult to put into words how things have unfolded, certainly in the last eight months, towards a group of individuals that are putting themselves in position to be eligible, whether that be towards playing or future captaincy. I am just not in that position right now to take up membership again,” he said.
One of the problems for someone like Poulter is the fines that he was given by the DP World Tour before he resigned his membership. While Garcia is prepared to pay his fines, it seems that the 48-year-old is not going to follow suit, and will not be getting LIV Golf to cover the costs either.
“I personally would not pay because I felt it was unjust at the time to be fined 100,000 per week because it makes no comprehension or sense to me at all. My stance has never changed, I played golf all over the world, I was never paying fines by Europe for when I played outside of Europe on other tours around the world, so my stance still today is the same stance that I had three years ago. I was never fined by Europe to play in many, many, many tournaments on other tours and I still feel the same today,” he added.
“I haven’t backtracked or changed my opinion. I stick with my first words that it’s not right. It’s very unjustifiable and if I personally wouldn’t pay the fines myself, why would I put my business partner in that business to pay $2.4 million towards a Ryder Cup I am not going to play in?”
A disappointing end to an unbelievable Ryder Cup career?
The Ryder Cup is so popular partially because the teams have not played for money – traditionally. So it is pride and passion that drive the incredible scenes of celebration each year.
So, while Poulter may have a case when it comes to the fines, it is disappointing that he is not prepared to pay the money which would enable him to play a part in the Ryder Cup again.
Ultimately, it is hard to imagine that Poulter is going to have any issue financially from paying the fines given the riches that LIV Golf offer.
He clearly feels that his principles are much more important. With that, there remains a large question mark over whether Poulter will be involved in the Ryder Cup, in any capacity, ever again.
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