You thought a foot injury could keep Ian Poulter from the Ryder Cup? Think again.
According to ESPN, European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke has added Poulter as a vice captain along with Padraig Harrington, Thomas Bjorn and Paul Lawrie, who were named a few weeks ago.
Poulter, who recently injured his foot and announced he will miss four months -- including Ryder Cup play -- with the ailment, confirmed the news on Twitter and in a statement expressing his excitement.
Honored to be asked by Darren to assist him at the @RyderCupEurope as vice Captain. I will help in anyway I can for the Team to hold that 🏆
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) June 6, 2016
Here is the statement from Poulter.
"When it became clear, given my current foot condition, that I would not be in a position to try and qualify for the team for a sixth time this year or indeed be able to justify a wild-card pick, I was truly honored and delighted to be asked by Darren to be a vice-captain.
"The best moments of my career have come when I have been wearing the blue and gold crest of Europe on my chest, knowing at the same time that the contest means so much to every European player and to every European fan, either in the crowd or watching back home on television.
"Darren shares that same passion and he knows I will be there to assist him and the 12 players who will line up at Hazeltine in any way I can."
This is essentially a best-case scenario for captain Clarke. He still gets the energy and emotion of Poulter without having to send him out there for any matches. Poulter's play has fallen off steeply since the last Ryder Cup and especially since the Ryder Cup from four years ago in which he figured prominently. Combine that with his injury, and he wasn't likely to be a great pick.
But now you get him there and still get to use a pick on somebody hotter. Good on Poulter for accepting, too. Nobody loves anything more than Ian Poulter loves the Ryder Cup. Bring on September!
