Poulter ready to intimidate
EUROPE’S Ian Poulter intends to ignore poor form and reprise his role as the tormentor-in-chief of the United States when the Ryder Cup gets underway at Gleneagles today.
Despite only managing one top-10 finish on tour this year, Poulter heads into the biennial event with a fearsome reputation and boasts an imposing winning record from four Ryder Cup appearances.
He has been Europe’s leading points scorer in the last three meetings while he also instigated the miracle of Medinah two years ago with five birdies in the last five holes of Saturday’s fourballs.
US captain Tom Watson has identified Poulter – one of European counterpart Paul McGinley’s three wildcard picks – as an opponent to nullify, a pressure the 38-year-old intends to utilise.
“I’m one of those players who stands tall,” said Poulter. “When I do that and when I hole putts and am seen showing emotion, I guess that can be the intimidation factor.”