POULTER TO THE CELTIC MANOR BORN

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGAThe man who helped set Ian Poulter on the road to success believes he was born to play the Ryder Cup.

Former coach Lee Scarbrow insists that Poulter’s incredible self-belief makes him perfect for the European team’s bid to reclaim the trophy at the Celtic Manor Resort next week.

Poulter will make his third appearance in the event when it docks in Wales and Scarbrow, the head PGA professional at Bedfordshire’s John O’Gaunt Golf Club, will be there to see him in Ryder Cup action for the first time.

“Ian is the perfect man for Ryder Cup, if anyone was born to play the Ryder Cup it was him, he just hates being beaten and is so determined,” said Peterborough resident Scarbrow, who employed Poulter as a young PGA assistant at Leighton Buzzard Golf Club in the mid-90s.

Poulter went on to qualify as a PGA professional before embarking on a successful playing career which has garnered eight European Tour titles, while earlier this year he won the World Match Play in Arizona.

Scarbrow witnessed the young Poulter at close hand and was a key influence on his career both as a coach and as a boss by encouraging him to play whenever the opportunity presented itself.

“I said to him if you don’t have a go, you’ll never know so I always made it possible for him to go out and play,” recalls Scarbrow.

“We had a great time, I wanted to kill him a few times if he was late for work or had been out the night before but he was a good little worker.

“Ian had iron will, determination, a massive amount of self-belief and an unbelievable desire to reach the top.

“He never said ‘if’, it was always when I play on tour, when I play the Ryder Cup, when I win Majors.

“When he said he would do something he always backed it up. I remember his first East Region Order of Merit event and he said he was going to win it. I thought okay right, and just told him to concentrate on making sure he did well.

“Of course he won it – and that included a night in hospital between rounds because of asthma. He came out and shot 65 or 66 to win it.

“On another occasion he said he was going to win the Hippo Tour but I told him he’d only probably be able to play a handful of events because of work commitments. He promptly won five out of six events including the Tour Championship.”

Scarbrow worked with Poulter in his early years on tour but was reluctant to travel so has just remained good friends with Poulter, who he is looking forward to meeting up with on the practice range at Celtic Manor.

It’s a long way from their early days together but Scarbrow is confident the flamboyant golfer has plenty more to achieve in the game.

“Ian has massively overachieved for what he can do. He could be a much better player but he is still in the world’s top 10. I still think he can do more, technically he can get better.
“I don’t think we have heard the end of what he can do. Whatever he wants, he can do.
“Just look at that putt at Birkdale for the Open. Harrington finished like a storm but Ian had it in his mind he needed a four to have a chance of winning. He didn’t hit a great chip shot but that 20ft putt was never going to miss, he almost willed it in the hole. That’s his strength of mind.”