Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 10 Ian Poulter

We look back at Ian Poulter's stunning putt which turned out to be the catalyst for the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history

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We look back at Ian Poulter's stunning putt which turned out to be the catalyst for the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history

Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 10 Ian Poulter

The 2018 Ryder Cup is nearly upon us so to celebrate we have put together a countdown of the 15 greatest shots ever to be hit during the event.

With just 10 days to go until the match, we look at Ian Poulter's clutch putt on the 18th green on Saturday evening at Medinah in 2012, the catalyst for the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history.

Related: Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No 11 Jamie Donaldson

In probably his finest moment as a professional golfer, Ian Poulter single-handedly dragged Europe back into the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah.

Paired with Rory McIlroy and facing Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner, Poulter birdied the final five holes to win the match 1up and give Europe hope.

10-4 down with just two matches left, Europe (and Poulter) managed to claw their way back into a 10-6 deficit which felt like a 10-6 draw heading into the final day's singles matches.

Poulter, known now as Europe's Postman, was simply unbeatable coming down the stretch with his five straight closing birdies.

His 15-foot putt on the last was the culmination of his heroics that day.

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Europe would comeback from 10-6 down to win the cup the next day, beating the USA 8.5 to 3.5 in the singles for a 14.5 to 13.5 victory.

Expand Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 15 Paul Casey 2006

Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 15 Paul Casey 2006

Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 15 Paul Casey 2006

First up in our Ryder Cup countdown of…

Expand Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 14 Sam Torrance 1985

Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 14 Sam Torrance 1985

Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 14 Sam Torrance 1985

Sam Torrance's Ryder Cup winning putt in 1985…

Expand Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 13 Howard Clark 1995

Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 13 Howard Clark 1995

Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 13 Howard Clark 1995

Next up in our countdown is Howard Clark's…

Expand Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 12 Rory McIlroy 2016

Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 12 Rory McIlroy 2016

Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 12 Rory McIlroy 2016

In arguably the greatest ever Ryder Cup match,…

Expand Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 11 Jamie Donaldson 2014

Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 11 Jamie Donaldson 2014

Ryder Cup Best Shots Countdown: No. 11 Jamie Donaldson 2014

Back in 2014, Jamie Donaldson sealed the Cup…

It was Europe's second successive Ryder Cup win and their fifth in six matches.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV