• Tiger Woods tees off during practice at the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National - Guyancourt, France. Regis Duvignau / Reuters
    Tiger Woods tees off during practice at the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National - Guyancourt, France. Regis Duvignau / Reuters
  • Team Europe captain Thomas Bjorn during the team photo with the Ryder Cup. Paul Childs / Reuters
    Team Europe captain Thomas Bjorn during the team photo with the Ryder Cup. Paul Childs / Reuters
  • Team Europe captain Thomas Bjorn, John Rahm and Rory McIlroy during the team photo with the Ryder Cup. Paul Childs / Reuters
    Team Europe captain Thomas Bjorn, John Rahm and Rory McIlroy during the team photo with the Ryder Cup. Paul Childs / Reuters
  • Europe's Henrik Stenson plays from a bunker near the putting green at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, outside Paris, France. Alastair Grant / AP Photo
    Europe's Henrik Stenson plays from a bunker near the putting green at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, outside Paris, France. Alastair Grant / AP Photo
  • General view of Team USA's Tiger Woods during practice at the Ryder Cup tournament at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France. Regis Duvignau / Reuters
    General view of Team USA's Tiger Woods during practice at the Ryder Cup tournament at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France. Regis Duvignau / Reuters
  • Team Europe's Francesco Molinari during a press conference at the Ryder cup tournament in Guyancourt, France. Paul Childs / Reuters
    Team Europe's Francesco Molinari during a press conference at the Ryder cup tournament in Guyancourt, France. Paul Childs / Reuters
  • Rory McIlroy of Europe practices ahead of the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Paris, France. Jamie Squire / Getty Images
    Rory McIlroy of Europe practices ahead of the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Paris, France. Jamie Squire / Getty Images
  • Men walk on a fairway at sunrise ahead of the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National Course at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, south-west of Paris. Franck Fife / AFP
    Men walk on a fairway at sunrise ahead of the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National Course at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, south-west of Paris. Franck Fife / AFP
  • European team players (BACK L/R): Europe's Swedish golfer Henrick Stenson, Europe's English golfer Tommy Fleetwood , Europe's English golfer Paul Casey, Europe's English golfer Tyrell Hatton, Europe's Danish golfer Thorbjorn Olesen, Europe's Italian golfer Francesco Molinari, Europe's Swedish golfer Alex Noren and Europe's English golfer Justin Rose, FRONT(L/R): Europe's Spanish golfer Jon Rahm, Europe's Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy, Europe's Danish captain Thomas Bjorn, Europe's Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia and Europe's English golfer Ian Poulter pose for a group photograph ahead of the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National Course at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, south-west of Paris on September 25, 2018. Eric Feferberg / AFP
    European team players (BACK L/R): Europe's Swedish golfer Henrick Stenson, Europe's English golfer Tommy Fleetwood , Europe's English golfer Paul Casey, Europe's English golfer Tyrell Hatton, Europe's Danish golfer Thorbjorn Olesen, Europe's Italian golfer Francesco Molinari, Europe's Swedish golfer Alex Noren and Europe's English golfer Justin Rose, FRONT(L/R): Europe's Spanish golfer Jon Rahm, Europe's Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy, Europe's Danish captain Thomas Bjorn, Europe's Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia and Europe's English golfer Ian Poulter pose for a group photograph ahead of the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National Course at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, south-west of Paris on September 25, 2018. Eric Feferberg / AFP
  • Canon Claycomb of Team USA and team mates show their support during the singles on day two of the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup at Disneyland Paris, France. Aurelien Meunier / Getty Images
    Canon Claycomb of Team USA and team mates show their support during the singles on day two of the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup at Disneyland Paris, France. Aurelien Meunier / Getty Images
  • Lucy Li of Team USA looks on during the singles on day two of the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup at Disneyland Paris, France. Aurelien Meunier / Getty Images
    Lucy Li of Team USA looks on during the singles on day two of the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup at Disneyland Paris, France. Aurelien Meunier / Getty Images
  • Tommy Fleetwood of England speaks during a press conference of the Ryder Cup 2018 at The Golf National in Guyancourt, near Paris, France. Ian Langsdon / EPA
    Tommy Fleetwood of England speaks during a press conference of the Ryder Cup 2018 at The Golf National in Guyancourt, near Paris, France. Ian Langsdon / EPA

Ian Poulter aims to rekindle past glories and fire Europe to Ryder Cup success


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Europe's Ryder Cup talisman Ian Poulter is relishing his return to the event at Le Golf National.

The 42-year-old Englishman is back in the team after missing the defeat at Hazeltine last time out but is raring to go in France.

"I'm rekindling the thoughts of all the previous times I've played and I'm pretty excited," he said.

"Last night [Monday] was great to get with the guys; it was a relaxed evening and we had some fun. It's always a special week from a team perspective."

Injury sidelined Poulter in America two years ago and although he was included as a vice-captain for Darren Clarke's team it was not the same.

His long absence from the game saw his world ranking plummet and Poulter had to work hard to resurrect his form.

"I guess when you are at the low of lows, and that wasn't that long ago, there's a little voice in the back of your head that kind of says 'You might not get back to as good as you was'," he said.

"It was difficult being vice-captain last time knowing how I'd helped the team in the past.

"This time around I felt I really wanted to make the team and felt if I worked hard, restructured things, I could definitely make this Ryder Cup team - which I have."

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Poulter said he has been inspired by Tiger Woods' remarkable comeback from back fusion surgery, with the 14-time major winner registering his first win in five years at the Tour Championship on Sunday.

"There were definitely question marks when I was struggling a bit and I looked to see where he has been, it is quite inspirational to see how good he's come back," Poulter said.

"For the Ryder Cup it is great and it is good to have Tiger Woods playing the type of golf he is playing because he makes the Ryder Cup even more special."

Poulter's record in the Ryder Cup - delivering 13 points over five previous events - earned him the nickname "the Postman" and means he is the man the United States team want to target.

"I take it as a huge compliment," Poulter said.

"You can be friends week in, week out, but when it comes to the Ryder Cup there is something there which makes you want to win."

Captain Thomas Bjorn said not too much should be read into his Tuesday's practice groups.

Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and FedEx Cup winner Justin Rose made up the first group alongside Alex Noren; Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey, Thorbjorn Olesen and Jon Rahm were in group two, while Fleetwood, Molinari, Hatton and Poulter were in group three.

"Not too much to be honest, I don't think. Today is just about getting everyone out there," said Bjorn.

"It doesn't necessarily mean they will be paired together.

"I don't feel like I've given anything away in what is going on on the golf course today.

"They are all out there and getting their bearings and getting to know what the golf course is like this week. Today is a very relaxed day."

Tiger Woods takes part in a practice round at Le Golf National. Reuters
Tiger Woods takes part in a practice round at Le Golf National. Reuters

United States captain Jim Furyk also said he had made decisions on a number of his pairings for this week and some of Tuesday's practice groups contained his match-ups - although he would not divulge which ones.

Tour Championship winner Woods, Bryson DeChambeau, Mickelson and Masters champion Patrick Reed made up the first group, with world No 1 Dustin Johnson alongside Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth next out.

Woods and DeChambeau is a possible pairing, with good friends Thomas and Spieth almost certain to play together at some point, despite the success Spieth and Reed have enjoyed in the last two contests.

The final group contained Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson, Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau.

"They are very aware of who they are playing with this week," added Furyk.

"You can look at it from a personality standpoint, a technical or data standpoint but that changes on different courses.

"This course is different to Hazeltine so you may want to change the type of players you play with each other."