The undisputed star of what has become known as the "Miracle at Medinah", Ian Poulter was at the centre of everything the Europeans achieved, enthusing and inspiring the crowd and his team mates with his passionate performances on the course and instilling an unbending faith in their ability to win off it.
“What Ian Poulter did, especially on the Saturday, changed the heart of the rest of team,” José María Olazábal, the European captain explained. “When we got together on Saturday evening, I could see on their faces there was a different look. There was a totally different atmosphere which was the key to the victory the following day.”
Poulter’s five consecutive birdies in that fourball match partnered with Rory McIlroy against Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson clinched the final point of the Saturday afternoon session and breathed life into Team Europe’s campaign, which had been listing badly up until that point in time.
Poulter’s adrenalin-charged personal contribution of four wins and no losses took his career winning record to 80 per cent in four Ryder Cup appearances . This fearsome match play reputation is enhanced further by victories in the 2010 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and 2011 Volvo World Match Play, proof that the flamboyant Englishman can be counted alongside the likes of Seve Ballesteros when the subject of Ryder Cup heroes is raised.
Teammate Sergio Garcia was equally effusive in his praise for the 36-year-old Englishman. “Ian Poulter was amazing,” he said. “He knows the meaning of the Ryder Cup and he lives for the Ryder Cup. It’s fantastic to have someone like him in the team, someone who can make the spirit turn at the right moment.”
When I spoke to Poulter recently at home, he was preparing for a stretch of end of season tournaments around the world where he will no doubt receive a standing ovation wherever he goes.
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