Ian Poulter on the Euro Ryder Cup mindset: ‘We win together, we lose together.’

WHEN YOU’RE AT THE LOWEST OF LOWS—and for me, that wasn’t that long ago— there’s always a little voice in the back of your head that says, “You might not get back to being as good as you were.”

THE VOICE IS POWERFUL. But I fought back. “I’ve got more wins in me,” I said. “I’m going to make the team in Paris.” That was my goal for the last two years leading up to the 2018 Ryder Cup, and it’s what kept me going.

IT WAS DIFFICULT BEING VICE CAPTAIN LAST TIME, at the 2016 Ryder Cup. I know how much I’ve helped the team in the past, but, hey, I wanted to assist in any way I could, so vice captain it was. We left the Cup in Hazeltine that year. The loss focused me. “In two years I’ll be back in the fray,” I said. I felt, you know, if I work hard, if I refocus properly, restructure things, then I’d get back on the team. I did. It’s one of my proudest achievements.

THE RYDER CUP IS SPECIAL. There’s nothing like it. You can be friends week-in, week-out or enemies week-in, week-out, but when you’re out there battling together, you’re a unit. There’s something extra in there, and it means so much to want to win and to have the will to do it.

ON PAPER, THE U.S. TEAM IS INCREDIBLE. They are strong, but we are gutsy and determined. We win together, we lose together. But as long as we do either as a team, that’s all that really matters.

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK I’VE GOT MORE IN ME. I’ll say that. I mean, I really do. The 2020 Ryder Cup is already in my sights.