Ian Poulter sums up what he misses most on PGA Tour, DP World Tour in six words

LIV Golf star and European Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter admits he doesn't miss a great deal of things on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour other than a few friends, following an interview on Global News Today with Rosanna Lockwood.

Poulter, 48, was one of the first high-profile names to join the breakaway Saudi golf league when it was formed in the summer of 2022. 

After losing a UK arbitration hearing where his fines to the DP World Tour were concerned last year, Poulter decided to terminate his membership of the former European Tour circuit alongside a number of other European Ryder Cup greats such as Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson.

Having just completed his third full season with LIV Golf, the co-captain of Majesticks GC discussed a number of topics with renowned news anchor Lockwood in an interview you can watch at the bottom of this page. 

Some of the standout lines from Poulter's interview came around his hopes of still one day being able to captain the European Ryder Cup team in the future, something he is not eligible to do since he is no longer a member of the DP World Tour. 

Under the current rules, players must participate in at least four regular season events in order to maintain their membership of the DP World Tour and thus be eligible to compete in or captain a European Ryder Cup team. 

Poulter, who has enjoyed some of his greatest moments as a professional in the Ryder Cup, finds the current situation "difficult" but he hopes there will soon be a resolution in the future in order to help him tick off one of his remaining career goals. 

"The rules that have been set in place are difficult, there's no compromise," Poulter told Lockwood on the issues facing LIV Golf players when it comes to qualifying for the majors and earning valuable Ryder Cup points. 

"I think everyone is aware that players needs to play their minimum amount of the European Tour to be able to eligible to play. 

"It's difficult for me personally, I find myself in a tricky position where I'm not a member and I obviously can't become eligible to be part a [Ryder Cup] team or even help out as a vice captain or captain unless I do become a member again. 

"It's not the best scenario, but it's one that the [DP World] Tour is sticking to."

Poulter added: "The Ryder Cup has been a huge part of my golfing life, some of the proudest moments of my career. I'm hopeful one day there's a sense of coming together that would enable the likes of myself, the opportunity to be able to become captain. 

"Let's see what happens, there's going to need to be some compromise. I'm hopeful one day we'll see it."

Poulter's comments about Ryder Cup eligibility fall in the same week that Sports Illustrated's Bob Harig dropped a bombshell update that the DP World Tour this month rejected LIV Golf's attempt to pay off the current fines of European Ryder Cup superstar duo Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. 

Rahm and Hatton have both appealed their fines with the DP World Tour as a result of their ties to LIV Golf this season, and thus both players are able to return to compete in DP World Tour events from now until the end of the season.

Hatton and Rahm reached decisions to appeal their fines in order to be let back onto the DP World Tour and maintain their memberships by competing in at least four regular season events. 

Related: DP World Tour player fuming with latest Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton update

It is understood a decision will not be reached over their appeals until early 2025.

But given a UK arbitration hearing voted in favour of the DP World Tour last time around, many consider there will be little change to the outcome.

It should also be noted the DP World Tour joined a 'Strategic Alliance' with the PGA Tour in 2021. 

The PGA Tour still has permanent suspensions in place for its members who have played in LIV Golf events. 

Should Rahm and Hatton decide not to pay off their fines, then as it currently stands ahead of next year's Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York, there is a strong possibility that both players could be ineligible to compete in Luke Donald's side.

That would be a damaging blow to Europe's chances of retaining the biennial contest away from home, and everyone knows it. 

But back to Poulter's interview...

Poulter was then asked by Lockwood whether he misses anything in particular about life on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour.

"Just a few friends, that's it," he bluntly replied. 

Poulter, who co-captains Majesticks GC alongside Westwood and Stenson, then elaborated further.

"For me, the LIV product has been very refreshing, to be in a team environment and have teammates that I have the opportunity to play with week in week out, and to be able to grow this franchise," he continued. 

"What I missed about the European Tour, the Ryder Cup for instance I get for the 14 weeks I play here on LIV, so what I miss there I gain all of it back on this side."

Related: Major champion to lodge appeal after being axed from LIV Golf

Poulter then spoke about his delight at seeing LIV Golf significantly drop the sport's age gap in terms of viewership in relation to the other Tours.

"What we've done in a short period of time with the LIV product, being more global, taking it to new territories, showing and growing the fan base and actually reducing the actual demographic age of followers is something that's very exciting.

"Everywhere we're going we're gaining a lot of good fans and bringing that younger age group into the game of golf. 

"I think that's the most exciting piece I think for us, we've dropped that age from a 64-year-old down to a 40-year-old. 

"It's a good thing for us and I'm really excited for the franchise's future."

Poulter is competing in the final LIV Golf League event of the season at the Team Championship in Dallas this week. 

Majesticks GC are ranked 11th of 13 in the standings heading into the season finale. 

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE