Frustrated Poulter bites back at Ryder Cup rumors
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
NORTON, Mass. -- Nonsense.
That's what Ian Poulter called newspaper reports from across the pond that indicated Nick Faldo had already told him that he would get a Captain's Pick for the European Ryder Cup team.
The rumor surfaced earlier this week at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, which is the final event in which players can automatically qualify for the team that will play at Valhalla in three weeks. Faldo is slated to announce his two wild card choices on Sunday after the final round is over.
Poulter likely could have played his way onto the team with a top-five finish at Gleneagles. After much soul-searching, though, and twice changing his plans after missing the cut at The Barclays last Friday, the flashy Brit decided to remain in the U.S. and play the Deustche Bank Championship.
Poulter made the decision because he wanted to continue competing in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, as well as fulfill his membership obligations by playing in his 15th TOUR event. He feels his body of work on both the PGA TOUR and European Tour over the last 12 months should be enough to sway Faldo if Poulter doesn't play convincingly at TPC Boston this week.
"I truly have not been given the nod, and that is hand on heart, swear on my kids' lives, that is the truth," Poulter said firmly. "I'm disgusted that people, players, media have put what they've put, and have, and would, basically think that Nick Faldo would be that unprofessional to have done such a thing a week before a number of different scenarios could have actually happened.
"I just think it's pathetic that people can even eschew or write or think that that's the case."
Poulter clearly wanted to quash the rumors once and for all when he met with the media at TPC Boston on Thursday. He said he had wrestled with his decision over the weekend but by Sunday had canceled all six flights back to Scotland. He called Faldo, whom he considers a long-time friend, to explain the situation.
"I got the best answer I could have possibly got off of a captain: 'You have to do what's right for you,'" Poulter reported. "That's the most respectful thing I could have possibly wanted to hear."
Although the Deutsche Bank Championship doesn't start until Friday, Poulter was in Massachussetts preparing for the tournament on Sunday. He wanted to work the kinks out after shooting 3 over and missing the cut at Ridgewood Country Club in the first Playoff event.
"Do you honestly think I'd be here (practicing) on a Sunday afternoon when the tournament doesn't start until Friday ... when I could have gone back to Orlando and had a couple of days off?" Poulter asked rhetorically.
"No. I was here Sunday afternoon for a reason -- because I wanted to practice and get my game in shape to play well this week because I haven't been given the nod. I want to play well this week because I want to move up in the world rankings, and I also want to play next week, as well, because there's big World rankings points to play for, as well, and to give me a chance to get in THE TOUR Championship."
Had Poulter gone to Gleneagles and played his way onto the team, Faldo's decision admittedly could have been much easier -- which is the bone of contention among some of his European Tour peers. Some also feel that he was snubbing the European Tour by not playing in the Johnnie Walker Championship this week, a criticism he was quick to answer.
"I'm doing something which not many people do, and that is trying to play two Tours," Poulter said. "That is a seriously, seriously hard thing to do. ... It's not a case of just being supportive of the European Tour for one tournament. I'm supportive of the European Tour over a 12 month period, and I try to play my fair share of tournaments on both sides."
Still, the rumors swirled in Scotland. Nick Dougherty was among those reportedly suggesting that Poulter had already gotten the news from Faldo. Colin Montgomerie, also hoping for a wild card, said Poulter had a "hotline" to the captain.
"I don't need to get in the discussion of Monty's discussions," Poulter said. "He's got enough work to do this week to try to make the side himself. He should just be getting his head down and trying to play good golf."
Faldo's decision became more difficult last weekend when Darren Clarke, a Ryder Cup mainstay, won his second European Tour event of the year. In addition, Paul Casey, a two-time winner at Gleaneagles who had no chance of qualifying on points, also remained on this side of the Atlantic to compete in the Playoffs -- and posted his third top-10 in the last five starts.
Poulter, who finished second at the Open Championship last month, admitted it was a "tough" weekend watching from the sidelines. He wants to stay positive, though, and remain confident that his entire resume merits Faldo's pick.
That said, come Sunday afternoon, Poulter would like nothing better than for someone to "run down the fairway and scream and shout ... and tell me I'm in," he said. That would be a "massive adrenaline rush," but the opposite news could be "destructive," Poulter said.
"Was it the right decision (to stay here)? I'm not sure," Poulter said. "In a lot of people's eyes, it would have been a mistake for me not to be at Gleneagles this week. But I've taken a personal decision, and I'm not there, I'm here, and I have to stick by that.
"I want to tee off tomorrow morning with a clear head and a clear mind knowing I've made the right decision for me, nobody else. I've not been given the nod from anybody else, but I have a clear mind in that I can tee off, I don't have any nonsense in my head. There's been four days of press that I have been reading, and you can't get away from it.
"My head is full right now, and I need to get rid of that by finishing this press conference and then to walk out on the putting green, do my practice, walk out on the practice ground and be fresh to play tomorrow, and that's all I can do."
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