McGinley hoping McIlroy can inspire Poulter to produce heroics

Paul McGinley has turned to Rory McIlroy to get beaten and bruised Ian Poulter back into Ryder Cup hero-mode after reuniting the pair for this morning’s fourballs session at Gleneagles.

Out of form Poulter was on the wrong end of a shock defeat alongside Scottish rookie Stephen Gallacher as American rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed inflicted a 5&4 drubbing on the architect of the Miracle at Medinah two years ago. Having rested the Englishman from yesterday’s afternoon foursomes, when Europe fought back from a 2½ to 1½ morning deficit to lead 5-3 overnight, McGinley believes Poulter’s battered pride is best restored to its normal ebullience by sending him back into fourballs duty with world number one and four-time major winner McIlroy in the final match of the opening session on day two at 8:20am.

The Anglo-Irish pairing will face American duo Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker.