Preparations are now underway for another Ryder Cup, with Team Europe having already named Luke Donald as their captain.
Donald has been selected by Team Europe for the third successive tournament, having guided the side to success in both 2023 and 2025.
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He will once again take up the role for the 2027 Ryder Cup, which takes place at Adare Manor in Ireland next September.
It remains to be seen what course of action the powers that be take after the event, with Ian Poulter now discussing his chances of one day becoming the European Ryder Cup captain.
Ian Poulter would ‘love’ to captain Europe at the Ryder Cup
When asked on the Rough Cut Golf Podcast if he can see a future where he can take on the role, and if he would consider it, he said: “Right now, no.
“The way things are structured at the minute I don’t think there’s an opportunity. I hope that changes, I really do.
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“My house is nothing bar Ryder Cup. It has meant the world to me through all the years. People will turn around and say why did you join LIV?
“Are you kidding me? I am not going to not join LIV, just for the sake of one tournament that happens every two years.
“I have a job to do and that is to provide for my family. I have done an amazing job of doing that for a long time and I have earned an obscene amount of money.
“People will say have you not earned enough? Well, it doesn’t work like that. Everybody, no matter who you are, in whatever walk of life.
“You don’t turn around and say I am okay earning X. We all want to earn more. Everyone is looking at another job. If someone offered you a job to work at Sky Sports and pay you £10 million a year would you go?
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“So first and foremost I take care of the family, I take care of business and I want to come home because the people who really care about me are the people in these four walls. Family.
“Then I have to look outside of that and turn around and say, of course, I definitely left an opportunity on the table but I knew what that would be in the hope that one day the golfing landscape and the world of golf would be able to pull itself together.
“I don’t know of many businesses in the world that would turn a blind eye to an investment from the PIF, which are arguably the biggest investors in the world.
“In business, in sport, in everything. So to have them part of the ecosystem of golf is good – some people will say it’s been bad for the fans because it’s a split product.
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“But in the bigger picture, like they have invested in to tennis and boxing, it has been better. They want to help sport and make things better for the fans eventually. So the turmoil is there.
“Yes, I have sacrificed being a Ryder Cup captain for now. Does that change? I hope so. Can I see it changing in the next couple of years? No. Luke is doing it again.
“He has a great rapport with the team and by Luke doing three, it is definitely stopping some of the players that were always earmarked to be Ryder Cup captains. It’s definitely stopping them.
“It’s what they want and I will always stand here today, and if I never have any more involvement with the Ryder Cup, I’ve had a good time!
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“Amazing stories, amazing Ryder Cups. I was proud to put the shirt on, I have helped them grow their business and their brand.
“I have helped them make millions and millions and millions of dollars by playing the Ryder Cup, to help the Ryder Cup and the European Tour. I am proud to have helped them make that money to help make it better.
“I have loved the Ryder Cup and every aspect of it. So we will see. I would love to, but I don’t see it right now, unfortunately.”
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
Ian Poulter is right to predict continued Ryder Cup snub
Poulter’s presence on LIV Golf is clearly a major stumbling block in his wishes to one day captain the European Ryder Cup team, which is a situation that seemingly won’t change for some time.
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And the same can be said for his fellow icons of the prestigious event, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, who are also playing on LIV Golf.
Such a situation was made clear when Henrik Stenson was removed from his role as captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup ahead of his switch to the Saudi-backed tour, from which he has since been relegated.
But also key to the current situation has been the success of Donald, who has done a phenomenal job and fully deserves to stay in the role.
There is, however, no denying Poulter’s fantastic record as a Ryder Cup player, which involves five wins and two losses from his seven appearances.
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He’s claimed 16 points for his side, and boasts a 15-8-2 record, including an unbeaten 6-0-1 record in singles.
Read more:
Ian Poulter states how long he wants to play on LIV Golf for as he outlines his future plans
Luke Donald has already given Europe a massive advantage ahead of the next Ryder Cup
Brandel Chamblee states who should be the next US Ryder Cup captain
Read the full article here
