Poulter and Sergio set for Ryder Cup nod

Padraig Harrington has three captain’s picks for this year’s Ryder Cup and we seem to know two already. In Paris 2018 Sergio Garcia became the all-time points scorer while Ian Poulter’s Postman legend added another chapter with an incredible singles win over Dustin Johnson. 

That seemed like the perfect final to two superb Ryder Cup careers but the strong likelihood is that they will both be back in European colours at Whistling Straits.

Speaking to the Telegraph in May Padraig Harrington hinted strongly that Poulter and Garcia, who he was a chequered past with, would be on his team.

“If you look at the guys who aren’t in, it would be a very odd decision to overlook Sergio and Poulter so that doesn’t leave very much does it? Which is difficult. Justin is the perfect example. He showed at Augusta (where he finished seventh) that he likes the big event. And what if Frankie starts playing well? You got four or five Ryder Cup players in contention. Sergio will nearly need to lose a limb not to be picked and Poulter is not far behind him. Nobody is guaranteed a pick, but, well, you have to think with Sergio and Ian…”

Six weeks later and the captain has repeated at this week’s Irish Open that the two of them are still in the box seat.

“Poulter and Sergio are two guys that have a Ryder Cup record that deserve more consideration than anybody when it comes to playing, as does Martin Kaymer, too. They are players who have done a lot in the Ryder Cup and that means a lot, adds a lot to it. I'm a strong proponent of the two guys you mentioned, you know, I'd like them to play their way into the team, I'd be a strong pro postseason tent, they have an expansive advantage on others.”