Ryder Cup Flashback: The Iconic Moment When Ian Poulter Inspired The Miracle At Medinah

Ryder Cup Flashback: The Iconic Moment When Ian Poulter Inspired The Miracle At Medinah
20:15, 13 Sep 2018

The Ryder Cup is nearly here as the action gets underway at Le Golf National in France on Friday and we continue the countdown to the greatest battle in golf with a trip down memory lane.

Something about Europe taking on USA stirs the competitive juices in Ian Poulter. As it stands, the Englishman's five appearances at Ryder Cups have yielded 13 points from 18 matches, with a win-rate of 72.22%, and he was due to go down in the annuls of Ryder Cup history before his remarkable intervention sparked one of sport's great comebacks at Medinah in 2012. 

Europe looked cooked as the sun began to set on the second day of play six years ago. Trailing 5-3 after the opening day of action, things got progressively worse for Europe on the Saturday as Jose Maria Olazabal's men found themselves 8-4 down after the morning's foursomes and then 10-5 down as the evening's fourballs moved towards their conclusion.

Step forward Ian Poulter.

Poulter and Rory McIlroy were involved in the day's final fourballs against Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner, played out to the backdrop of lary chants of "USA, USA" from a well-oiled crowd.

Unperturbed by the partisan spectators, Poulter went birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie during the course of the final five holes as the Europeans soared back into contention. Standing over a 15-footer at the 16th hole, Poulter duly drained it before nailing an eight-footer at the seventh, although he saved his best for a nerve-shredding final hole.

With both teams watching on, Poulter, 36 at the time, stood coolly over the ball before rolling home. He was never going to miss.

Poulter celebrated like a man possessed as his eyes threatened to pop out of his head, he pumped his fist against his chest as he turned towards his teammates to celebrate, before hugging McIlroy.

USA still led 10-6 but Poulter's putt marked a change in atmosphere and a change in momentum that Europe were about to ride into the following Sunday.

Olazabal told his players that they needed to win the first five singles matches on the final day to have any chance of victory. Donald, Poulter, McIlroy, Justin Rose and Paul Lawrie duly delivered the goods, but USA kept edging ahead until Martin Kaymer defeat Stricker to secure the point that would give Europe the tie that would at least meant they would retain the trophy.

However, Francesco Molinari halved the final match with Woods to secure a famous 14.5 - 13.5 victory that will live long in the memory of all those who watched.

The greatest comeback in sport? Possibly. The great comeback in the history of the Ryder Cup? Undoubtedly. It was a team effort from the European players and Olazabal, who dedicated the win to his late, great friend Seve Ballesteros.

The name of Ballesteros remains indelibly tied with the Ryder Cup golf and it was the intervention of Poulter that ultimately inspired 'The Miracle At Medinah'

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