Ian Poulter responds to Jon Rahm’s Ryder Cup claim

Ian Poulter has commended Jon Rahm for his stance on LIV golfers competing at the Ryder Cup by claiming the Spaniard is “the only person who gets it.”

Rahm expressed his sadness that “politics have gotten in the way” of the biennial showdown with Team USA after it was confirmed he would not be rekindling his partnership with Sergio Garcia in Rome.

LIV golfers Garcia, Poulter and Lee Westwood are all now ineligible for the match in September after resigning from the DP World Tour.

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The trio, who have played in a combined 28 Ryder Cups, handed in their tour cards amid mounting fines and suspensions following their defection to the Saudi-backed league.

Poulter has applauded Rahm’s verdict on Garcia’s exile, tweeting: “The only person who gets it.. @JonRahmpga … it’s just golf.. politics aside it’s just golf.”

Rahm and his close friend Garcia provided a rare spark in blue-and-gold during the humiliating 19-9 defeat to the Americans at Whistling Straits in 2021.

The only person who gets it.. @JonRahmpga … it’s just golf.. politics aside it’s just golf. https://t.co/rcOCOmWGd6

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) May 30, 2023

And the world No.2 is adamant Garcia’s status as a LIV player should not have affected his chances of making Luke Donald’s team.

“A Spanish duo in the Ryder Cup I think to me is embedded into the roots of the Ryder Cup,” Rahm said before this week’s Memorial Tournament.

“Look with Seve and Ollie were able to do throughout their partnership, right. So it’s a little sad to me that politics have gotten in the way of such a beautiful event.

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“It’s the best Europeans against the best Americans, period. And whatever is going on, who is playing LIV and who is not playing LIV to me shouldn’t matter. It’s whoever is best suited to represent the European side.

“And I have a hard time to believe that the best player Europe has ever had, the most successful player Europe has had on the Ryder Cup isn’t fit to be on the team.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.