Poulter 'gutted' for duo

Englishman insists he will have no problems finding a new partner

Last updated: 7th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Poulter 'gutted' for duo

Poulter: A wildcard pick two years ago by Nick Faldo

It's over. Everyone is potentially going to pick three different people, but the picks are the picks and what will happen in the team room when we get there is everybody will be going out to win the Ryder Cup

Ian Poulter
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Ian Poulter admitted "great mates" Paul Casey and Justin Rose would be upset at missing out on this year's Ryder Cup.

Colin Montgomerie announced on Sunday that Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari would be his three wildcard picks to complete Europe's 12-man line-up for Celtic Manor.

His choices meant there was no room for world number eight Casey and Rose - a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year.

Poulter was "gutted" for his fellow Englishmen - but insisted the focus must now to be on those who will be competing against the United States.

Very hard

"I'm gutted for Justin and Paul - they are two great mates and golfers," he said.

"I know what's going on in their minds. I know what the guys have gone through because I've been there and it's very hard to play golf that way.

"Justin's going to be upset, Paul is going to be upset.

"Justin Rose has won two tournaments of late, Paul Casey third in The Open, top 10 in the world, great match play record.

"Would Paul have been in my side? There's a very good chance he would have been.

"Would Justin have been in my picks? There's a very good chance he would have been.

"But I don't want to get into the whole scenario of 'he said he should have been picked'. I don't want any negative press.

"It's over. Everyone is potentially going to pick three different people, but the picks are the picks and what will happen in the team room when we get there is everybody will be going out to win the Ryder Cup.

"We could go the negative way and talk about the players who haven't made the side. We could talk about that for months, years.

"Five guys had a great chance to get in and every one of them on their merit had a great reason to be in the side. The team is the team. It's the captain's decision and everybody will respect that decision.

"As a European player I'm going to get with the team and we're going to do our damnedest to win the Ryder Cup.

"I can't wait to get there and let's be together as a side and not get torn apart as a side in the next two weeks in the newspapers. That's all I hope.

"There is no point talking about it. There's no point wasting my time and your time and paper time talking about it."

Partnerships

Poulter was a wildcard selection by previous captain Nick Faldo two years ago for Louisville and went on to pick up four points from five outings.

He registered two wins playing alongside Rose but is not too concerned about having to find a new partner for the 2010 edition of the event.

"I have played with Ross Fisher in the World Cup - we have an incredible record score-wise - so for me that's something which is a plus," he added.

"Luke Donald, Lee Westwood. I can play with all of them. I think the side is strong whichever way you look at it."

Poulter and Fisher finished sixth in the World Cup two years ago and were then fourth in the same tournament last November, where they finished with a stunning round of 64 in the closing foursomes.

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