The year cannot be recalled, but the image will be forever etched in the memory bank. Wild-eyed, manic looking Ian Poulter in that zone that only the Ryder Cup could put the colourful Englishman. From memory, Europe were well adrift of their American adversaries in the biennial team golfing event when ‘Poults’ almost single-handedly set about dragging the continent back into contention.
It wasn’t the first time he had rescued the blue and gold and, depending on how long ago that was he may have done so afterwards. But to the utmost regret of most genuine golf fans – or indeed anybody who likes dramatic sport – it’s now unlikely that pulverising Poulter perfection will ever be seen in the Ryder Cup again following the latest developments in the LIV Golf mess which has divided and destroyed the game.
For those not au fait with affairs of tee to green, LIV Golf is the brainchild of the game’s great bridesmaid, Greg Norman. The Australian who was placed in more Majors than filters in a cigarette box. Perhaps that might explain why the Great White Shark was so keen to get in on some of the copious quantities of Middle Eastern money seemingly bank rolling the new venture. That, however, should never be enough to justify sating a people who are known to perpetrate all sorts of abhorrances against people. Something people involved in other big sporting events were also guilty of in the same region.
The thing about the Ryder Cup, though, is that by resigning his DP (formerly European) Tour card, Poulter has automatically disqualified himself from partaking in the event he made his own for so long.
As bad as losing one Ryder Cup legend would be owing to the anarchist new Tour, that it would be Poulter would be a travesty in itself, but add to that both Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia also self administering their own culling from the unique event and it becomes a sorry stain on the individuals involved and the three day match itself.
The Ryder Cup will never be the same in the future. That is, if it has one.