A last place at the LIV Golf Team Championship? Not a problem for Brooks Koepka, who we know will stand up, dust himself off, and move on to the next. And that is exactly what he did. The golfer is gearing up to play the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, an event part of the DP World Tour’s Back 9. However, one of his fellow LIV golfers seems to have a problem with the men’s circuit that the Smash GC skipper is teeing off in; none other than Ian Poulter!

Koepka shared a post on his Instagram handle expressing his excitement to tee off at one of the three courses that will host the event. “Always good to be back at my favorite course in the world #DunhillLinks,” wrote the pro while sharing several pictures of him on the practice range at the Old Course at St. Andrews. Do take a look at the photos, for the snaps of the 5-time major champ does look good, in all honesty!!

Ian Poulter, however, seemed to turn a blind eye to the 34-year-old athlete as he went ahead to comment under the post. “Shame would have been nice to support,” responded the Majesticks GC Co-captain before taking a jab at the DP World Tour which he was a part of for more than two decades. “Guess I’d have been better to not being a member of the Tour for 23 years after all.”

Surprised? Well, we were too. The 48-year-old had been, interestingly, one of the first few high-profile names to join the Saudi-backed league during its inception in 2022. As a result of the defection, Ian Poulter was deemed a certain amount as a fine to be paid to the European circuit which he, later on, appealed against.

Then what happened? Well, Brooks Koepka’s fellow LIV Golf Pro went ahead to lose the UK arbitration hearing regarding the penalty dues following which he terminated his membership on the DP World Tour. But do mind that he wasn’t alone in doing so. The likes of Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, and Henrik Stenson were also alongside him.

Down went Ian Poulter’s Ryder Cup chances

Poulter’s exit from the Tour led to him being deemed ineligible for the 2023 Ryder Cup, owing to him not being a member of the men’s circuit. Now, come 2024, the situation remains the same even though the European Tour has changed a bit of its rules for the golfers aiming for the biennial event in 2025.

As per the new regulations, a golfer must tee off in at least 4 regular season events to maintain their membership and thus, gain eligibility to be part of the team. Something that the LIV Golf Pro is unable to do! “The rules that have been set in place are difficult, there’s no compromise,” said the pro in a recent interview as he alluded to the same.

“It’s difficult for me personally,” said the golfer, “I find myself in a tricky position where I’m not a member and I obviously can’t become eligible to be part of a [Ryder Cup] team or even help out as a vice-captain or captain unless I do become a member again.” Quite unfortunate, his current situation is. But there’s no other alternative for Ian Poulter if he wants to become part of the European team!