European captain Paul McGinley admits he is concerned about the loss of form which has seen Ryder Cup talisman Ian Poulter drop out of the automatic qualifying places for Gleneagles.
Poulter, who inspired the “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012 and finished with a 100 per cent record in Chicago, looked almost certain to make the team when he finished second, fifth and second in the final three events of last season.
But the 38-year-old has registered just one top-five finish in 2014 and Martin Kaymer's victory in the Players Championship a fortnight ago knocked him out of the qualifying places.
Pushed out
"I'm aware of how Poults is doing," McGinley said. "He made a lot of points early in the campaign, but is not in the team at the moment as he's just been pushed out.
“But he’s in that second tier and one more good week and he’s right back in it again. There’s a long way to go. I’m a little bit concerned what’s happening right now, but not worried.
“I spoke to him for a good 45 minutes on the phone last week and we had a really good chat. He knows he has my support, like all the players do. He’s determined to be there but he has to earn his place. ”
Asked if he would still select Poulter if he was off form at the end of August, McGinley added: “It depends on what you term by form. He knows he needs to step on the gas over the summer. He needs to improve.
“But he’s making cuts and he’s finishing decent, he’s not way off form, not miles away. He feels he’s got his scehdule a little bit wrong. He hasn’t really had a run of tournaments, but starting now he has this run of tournaments over the summer. He’s really up for it.”
Only five of the team from two years ago are currently in the automatic qualifying places, but McGinley has been delighted by the form shown by Sergio Garcia recently.
And he hopes he and Poulter can guarantee their place on his team by first achieving some individual glory.
“I walked a couple of holes with Sergio at The Players and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him hit the ball better. Absolutely phenonemal,” McGinley added. “Sergio loves the Ryder Cup and is pretty much guaranteed in the team you can say now.
Garcia's fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez is also on the verge of the team after winning the Spanish Open last week, but McGinley warned the 50-year-old he will also have to deserve his place as Europe's oldest ever player.
“It would be a great story, no doubt. But I’m not here write a fairytale, I’m here to pick the best team to win the Ryder Cup,” McGinley said.
“If Miguel makes it then tremendous, if he doesn’t he doesn’t. He’s in a great run of form, but it’s important that he has a really good summer and continues this run of form through to the US PGA and right up to Italy (the final counting event) really.”
The field at Wentworth is star-studded a star-studded, with only Graeme McDowell missing from the victorious Ryder Cup team of 2012 after opting to spend time at home with his pregnant wife.
France's Victor Dubuisson, who looks certain to make his Ryder Cup debut in September, is absent with a shoulder injury, but Sweden's Jonas Blixt – joint second in the Masters last month – will get his first taste of the European Tour's flagship event.
On the brink
Blixt insists he would consider adding more European Tour events to his schedule if he was close to qualifying for Gleneagles: "If I'm on the brink of maybe making one of the spots off the money list or the world ranking list, absolutely," said Blixt, who has to play 13 European Tour events to be eligible.
“It’s tight when you play two tours. My schedule is pretty much set for the rest of the year. Unless I get hurt or anything like that, I’m planning on playing (my 13 events).”
Defending champion Matteo Manassero was tipped for a Ryder Cup place after his victory 12 months ago, but the Italian admits he would not be disappointed to miss out after struggling since.
“The 12 guys that are going to make that team deserve to be on that team,” the 21-year-old said. “It’s not something that I will have thrown away.
“The beginning is always really important. If you can start well then you only need one step to get in. Now it’s almost as if I need two steps to get in. It’s a little bit harder so if I make it it’s going to be a great achievement and I will be extremely happy about it.”
