Ian Poulter leading the pack of future Ryder Cup captains waiting in the wings

The Englishman has been the beating heart of six previous European Ryder Cup teams, winning five of those six encounters while compiling a 14-6-2 match record

Team Europe's Ian Poulter: One of up to seven future Ryder Cup captains involved with the visitors in Wisconsin. Picture: PA

It was a throwaway question, a little ice breaker to lift the mood at the start of an early morning press conference before anyone had time to grab breakfast.

“When you’re captain in 2025,” someone asked Ian Poulter, “will you be having press conferences at 7.30 am?” “Nope,” Poulter said without the slightest hesitation, as if the query of his captaincy was based on a foregone conclusion.