Poulter and Colsaerts get the nod for 2012 Ryder Cup

Englishman Ian Poulter and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts have been selected as the two Captain’s picks for the 2012 Ryder Cup in Medinah, Chicago.

The duo finished 11th and 12th in the scoring list by right, and both have a formidable matchplay record; with Poulter winning the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2011 and Colsaerts a year later in 2012.

It will be the Englishman’s fourth Ryder Cup cap, while the Belgian makes his debut on the 28th of September.

The pair will join the 10 that have already qualified after Sunday’s Johnnie Walker Championship. They are Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Graeme McDowell, Paul Lawrie, Francesco Molinari, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Peter Hanson and Martin Kaymer.

Poulter was the highest points scorer for either side when selected as a wildcard for the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla, and scored three out of four points two years later at Celtic Manor when Europe won 14½-13½.

He said: “I’m thrilled. To get the call last night from Jose was a great moment. I want to pour some passion over the 18 holes at Medinah like I know best.”

Colsaerts, on the other hand, is a Ryder Cup rookie and was still playing his golf on the Challenge Tour in 2009.

“I am living proof if you want something badly, put the work in and have passion, it can happen,” he said.  It has been a fairy story. It is something I have wanted since I was a little kid. To be part of such a big team for a captain with such good history is something I’m very proud of.”

Captain Jose Maria Olazabal explained Colsaerts, the longest hitter on the European Tour, won him over by showing his desire to play in the Ryder Cup.

“The guy has shown a lot of heart and a lot of character,” he said. “The Ryder Cup is difficult but I think he has the game. It is a long course and I think he can take advantage of that.”

Padraig Harrington, a six-time Ryder Cup veteran, was arguably the biggest name to miss out on a Captain’s pick. “He was 19th on the list of players and that was a little bit too far down,” Olazabal said. “He took it well.”

Across the pond, eight players have already qualified for the US team; they are Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Phil Mickelson.

US captain Davis Love names his four wildcard choices on the 4th of September after the first two events of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup play-offs.