Ian Poulter blasts Ryder Cup treatment and offers frank admission over Team Europe return

Ian Poulter has lost his eligibility to compete in the Ryder Cup for Europe after the Englishman resigned from the DP World Tour last May due to his LIV Golf loyalties

Ian Poulter has admitted he may never be involved with the European Ryder Cup team again – unless those in charge are replaced.

Poulter is one Europe’s greatest Ryder Cup players, earning the nickname ‘The Postman’ thanks to his ability to deliver in big moments for his continent against their American rivals. On the back of his move to LIV Golf though, the Englishman appeared to bring an end to his relationship with the European team.

After being fined and suspended by the DP World Tour for defecting to the LIV setup, Poulter opted to resign his membership from the Wentworth-based circuit last spring, thus giving up his Ryder Cup eligibility.

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This saw the Majesticks star miss last Autumn’s event in Rome alongside fellow LIV members Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia. With the world of golf beginning to heal though, it appears Poulter and co may have the chance to return to the European setup at some point, with a framework agreement currently being negotiated between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia.

For Poulter however it appears he has now plans to make a return amid the treatment he and his fellow defectors have received over the past two years. “Too much happened last time,” Poulter told Gulf News. “Too much was said and that’s extremely disappointing from my perspective with the way certain people were treated and spoken about with reference to the Ryder Cup.

“Especially when certain people have committed a lot of their life to work extremely hard for that product. So, the way it stands right now, with the current people that run that level of the organisation, things would have to change for me to be involved. That’s from an everything perspective, I’m not needed, they didn’t need me last time.”