POULTER: “I’M READY TO QUALIFY FOR THE RYDER CUP TEAM”

Ian Poulter has insisted that he hopes to be able to compete in next year’s Ryder Cup in Rome despite having signed for LIV Golf.

Poulter, who has played in seven previous Ryder Cups and has 16 points to his name, is at the forefront of a legal challenge to the DP World Tour aimed at allowing LIV golfers to not only be able to qualify for the Ryder Cup, but continue to play in DP World Tour events across the world.

Poulter, speaking in Miami before the final LIV Golf event of 2022, which gets under way at Trump Doral on Friday, said: “We can still qualify for the team as far as I’m aware. Unless we’ve been told we can’t qualify, then I’m still ready to play as much as I possibly can and try and make that team.”

He added: “My commitment to the Ryder Cup has never been in doubt. I don’t think that should ever come into question. I’ve always wanted to play Ryder Cups and have played with as much passion as anyone else that I’ve ever seen play a Ryder Cup.”

One person who isn’t keen on Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood teeing it up in Rome is world no.1 Rory McIlroy, who said that he felt a sense of ‘betrayal’ from all those European players who have signed up to LIV Golf and still expected to be able to play in DP World Tour events and the Ryder Cup.

Speaking after his win at last weekend’s CJ Cup about his feelings towards former Ryder Cup teammates who have joined LIV Golf, McIlroy said: “This is the first time that I’ve felt a kind of sense of betrayal. You build bonds with these people through Ryder Cups and other things. Them knowing that what they are about to do is going to jeopardise them from being a part of that ever again. There was a great opportunity for GMac [Graeme McDowell] to maybe be the captain at Adare in 2027, while most of Sergio’s legacy is Ryder Cup-based, same with Poulter and Westwood.”

He added: “If people felt so aggrieved about some things. I’d rather be trying to make those changes from inside the walls than trying to go outside and be disruptive.”

A five-day hearing, presided over by Sport Resolutions UK, is take place in London in February when a final decision will be made on whether LIV Golf members can continue to participate in DP World Tour events where eligible, collect Ryder Cup qualification points and feature on the order of merit. This opens the door for the involvement of the players in question in the Race to Dubai finale in November, plus the Middle East swing in January next year.

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