Ian Poulter has hinted he could well turn down the chance to represent Team Europe at this year's Ryder Cup, even if he earns a place. Poulter is one the event's greatest players, having delivered time and time again for the Europeans.
This glittering legacy has been somewhat tarnished over the past year though, after the Englishman joined the controversial LIV Golf Series last summer. It still remains unknown as to whether LIV members will be able to compete on either side in Rome in September.
This comes after European golf bosses sacked former captain Henrik Stenson after he chose to follow in the footsteps of Poulter and co by joining the Saudi-backed circuit.
His partnership with world No. 1 Rory McIlroy has played an integral part to Poulter's and Europe's success in recent years, but that relationship now seems fractured with the pair holding opposing views in regard to the LIV saga. With the likes of Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia joining the breakaway circuit, McIlroy revealed in October that he felt a sense of 'betrayal' from his former teammates.
Poulter was quick to shoot this down that same month, claiming that as far as he was concerned he was still keen on qualifying for the team match play event later this year. Now though it seems the Englishman is less keen to join up with his once teammates and now new-found rivals.
He said: "It’s [the Ryder Cup] the only thing that has mattered to me for 20 years. You all know that. But when you feel like things change, you might feel a little differently. I would love to qualify. Whether I play or not would be a different thing. I haven’t given up on anything."
Poulter kicks off his attempts to qualify this week, as the Englishman makes a controversial return to the DP World Tour at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Qualifying via the European Points list may be the Englishman's best bet, with Poulter tumbling down the World Points list due to a lack of world ranking points whilst competing on the LIV circuit.
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Another avenue - and one that has been so successful in the past - is to be selected through the captain's picks, which makes up six places this year. Poulter though is not holding his breath. "I certainly don’t expect to get one of the six picks," he admitted.
“Not in any way shape or form. Which is also a shame. What does that tell you? What is the story there? You’ve said enough for me to know what you know. That in itself is scary.”
Poulter will kick off his tournament on Thursday, when he tees up alongside Matthieu Pavon and Mikko Korhonen in the opening round.
