Ryder Cup 2020: Ian Poulter says everything is stacked against Europe as he relishes underdogs tag | Golf News

« When you have that, when you can go in as underdogs, when you can turn the tide and actually come out victorious, it means a little bit more »; watch the Ryder Cup live on Sky Sports Ryder Cup from Friday to Sunday

Ian Poulter accepts « everything is stacked against Europe » as they prepare to take on the United States in the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits this week.

However, the 45-year-old Englishman is relishing the underdogs tag for the visitors as they bid to retain the trophy they won in Paris three years ago.

Poulter, who has lost only six of his 22 matches in his previous six Ryder Cup appearances, says it will be « extra special » if Europe can claim their first victory on US soil since Medinah in 2012.

« I guess it’s a lot more difficult [to win a Ryder Cup on the road], and it doesn’t happen that often, even though we’ve had the upper hand of that. I guess it’s just more enjoyable, » he said.

Poulter is set to make his seventh Ryder Cup appearance for Europe

« Course set-up is obviously this week heavily weighted in [favour of] the US as opposed to how we set things up back in Europe, so I guess everything is stacked against us.

« When you have that, when you can go in as underdogs, when you can turn the tide and actually come out victorious, it means a little bit more.

« You only have to look around and all the grandstands are red. Everything that you look at, the fans, 98 per cent are obviously going to be US fans this week. It’s difficult from start to finish. It’s hard. It’s not easy to play away from home.

Poulter was one of Padraig Harrington’s three captain’s picks

« As much as we feel comfortable as a team, to know we’re underdogs, to know that, we have to play extra special this week to get the job done. It feels pretty rewarding at the end of the week if we can get it done. »

Poulter, a captain’s pick this year by Padraig Harrington, played a key role as Europe fought back from 10-6 down to defeat the United States in 2012 in the ‘Miracle of Medinah’ and he is looking to draw on those experiences this week.

« I’m always looking on the highlight reel, » he added. « It’s pretty hard when you’re pretty social media busy and there’s often highlights of all the good things you’ve kind of done through the years, and obviously Medinah is one of those.

« It’s good to get those positive vibes, a bit of confidence, and enjoy watching the celebrations that we had and the kind of golf that we played on Saturday and Sunday. »

Poulter will be hoping to inspire Team Europe to another victory

Poulter, who is viewed as Europe’s talisman thanks to his excellent record and emotional reactions on the course, also stressed how important it is to keep fighting against the odds.

« You always have to believe that you have the ability to turn the match around, » he said.

« Momentum has been key in every Ryder Cup I’ve ever played. It’s all about holding that level of momentum for the longest period you possibly can, and that’s hard to play against sometimes when you can see somebody has got that kind of run of form and the colour stays the way it does for a long period of time. You have to kind of break that.

Poulter says the Ryder Cup is the polar opposite of the ‘selfish’ sport the golfers usually play

« There’s only been a few instances where it’s been that way and you’ve wanted to break it, so you always have to tell yourself that it can happen, it’s going to happen, and you’ve got to make it happen sometimes. »

Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK & Ireland