‘Poulter as mentor is dream come true’
Skaik inspired by Englishman’s determination
I’ve learnt so many things from Ian. I always watched him on TV growing up so to get the chance to be mentored by him is a dream come true.” Ahmad Skaik » UAE’s No 1 golfer
It came as no surprise to see Ian Poulter selected by European Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington as one of his three Captain’s Picks last week. The Englishman, who is nicknamed the ‘Postman’ because he always delivers, is a veteran of the biennial tournament and transforms into a different beast when clad in the continent’s blue and gold.
One man who knows all about this is the UAE’s No 1 golfer Ahmad Skaik. The Emirati has been mentored by Poulter since the start of 2020 thanks to a mentorship programme set up by DP World and the Emirates Golf Federation.
Skaik has had numerous calls with the 12-time European Tour winner as well as a face-to-face coaching session when they were both in Dubai ahead of the DP World Tour Championship.
Earlier this year the duo met up again at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which was Skaik’s second start at the Rolex Series event, with Poulter discussing tactics on improving his skills and confidence.
“I’ve learnt so many things from Ian,” said Skaik. “I always watched him on TV growing up so to get the chance to be mentored by him is a dream come true. I speak to him from time to time to let him know what I’ve been working on and he gives me tips on how to structure my practice sessions or to change the way I’m doing things to get better results.
“He has also helped out with my preparation for my bigger events by giving me advice on how to deal with nerves and pressure and not let that affect me during the build-up to tournament week.”
Impressive record
Some of those conversations have inevitably involved talk of the Ryder Cup with Poulter widely known for his love of golf’s greatest contest. He boasts an impressive record of just six losses from 22 matches while remaining undefeated in the singles. Among those he’s beaten on Sunday: Dustin Johnson in 2018, current US captain Steve Stricker (2008) and Matt Kuchar (2010).
“I think Ian is an essential addition to the team and he will be great at Whistling Straits,” said Skaik. “The Ryder Cup isn’t the same without him because of the energy he brings to the team and the passion he shows — he just has to be there.”