June 7, 2016
Ian Poulter will serve as a vice captain of Europe's Ryder Cup team after a foot injury ended his chances of playing.
Facing four months on the sidelines, Poulter joins Thomas Bjorn, Paul Lawrie and Padraig Harrington as one of captain Darren Clarke's four assistants.
The Ryder Cup will be played from Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.
''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,'' Poulter said in a statement Monday.
''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.''
The 40-year-old Poulter has won the Ryder Cup in four of his five playing appearances.
''Ian's Ryder Cup record speaks for itself and stands comparison with anyone in the history of this great contest,'' Clarke said. ''It goes without saying what a vital presence he will be in our team room come September.''
