Ryder Cup Desire Could Rekindle Ian Poulter's Lost Love for Golf

Ian Poulter has intimated he is not enjoying golf right now, but the burning desire to earn a place on the European team for the 2016 Ryder Cup could well rekindle his love affair with the game.

Poulter is in the middle of a whirlwind schedule, having been forced to make a last-ditch trip to Asia to play in the Hong Kong Open in order to secure the minimum 13 tournaments needed to make him eligible for a spot on Darren Clark's side at Hazeltine.

A dip in Poulter's world ranking took him outside the top 50, making him ineligible for the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, starting on November 5. Under that scenario, he would not have played the minimum 13 tournaments required to keep his European Tour membership, a prerequisite for Ryder Cup entry, hence the dash to Hong Kong.

The 39-year-old performed with credit in Hong Kong, with only a disappointing third round denying him a crack at a top-10 finish. Following his unscheduled trip to Asia, Poulter has made the trip to Belek for the Turkish Airlines Open, the first of four events that make up the Final Series.

"

In eight career rounds at the #TurkishAirlinesOpen Ian Poulter is 35 under par! Two shots better than anyone else. pic.twitter.com/9SrOEb1c5G

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 27, 2015"

With a $7 million prize fund put up by Turkish Airlines, major ranking points come hand in hand and a decent finish will propel Poulter back up the standings.

At present, Poulter would require a captain's pick to make the team—but being so early in the schedule it is not hugely relevant as the same comment applies to, among others, world No. 3 Rory McIlroy.

But while it would take a brave man to back McIlroy not to make the team, the same cannot be said of Poulter, who has had a disappointing time of things in 2015.

However, a player who has so often been the talisman for the biennial battle with America is determined to earn a place on Clarke's 12-man roster.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

"If my auntie had ... I am not going into the 'if' game," Poulter said when questioned as to whether he would consider taking on an assistant's role under Clarke if he failed to earn a playing spot on the team. "I am not playing that 'if' game.

"In my eyes I am going to make the team, that's what's going to happen."

Poulter, with 16 tournament victories as a professional under his belt, has not been in the winners' circle since taking the WGC-HSBC Champions event in November 2012.

Niggling injuries have held the the former world No. 5 back, while his focus was understandably taken off the game when his mother suffered an aneurysm earlier this year.

Poulter revealed at the British Masters at the start of October that his mother was making progress, but it does appear that his appetite for the game has dipped.

"I need to enjoy golf," Poulter said. "It has been a difficult four or five months, there has been a lot going on. It is difficult and you have times in your career when difficult things happen. It makes you realise that golf really isn't everything.

"Maybe it is one of those times when things happen and you have to get back on the course, not really care about anything else and go and have some fun.

"I know when I have fun on the golf course I play good. I hope I get back to that soon."

An immediate chance to get back in the saddle comes at the Turkish Airlines Open on the Montgomerie Maxx Royal—the scene of him letting slip a six-shot lead 12 months ago.

Poulter's supporters will hope he can exorcise those demons and get back on target for a shot at his beloved Ryder Cup in 2016.

Turkish Airlines are title sponsors of the Turkish Airlines Open, the first of four events that make up the Final Series.

*All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise indicated.