Hong Kong Here I Come: Poulter’s Top 50 Membership Expires

Judging by how well Europe's up-and-coming players are playing, Ian Poulter's old guard status was already in jeopardy before he suddenly dropped out of the exclusive World Top 50 Golf And Country Club. Losing that cushy club membership meant no WGC HSBC IOU invite and therefore, no 13 European Tour events in 2015 and therefore, no Ryder Cup eligibility in 2016!

Voila! Enter, the great Rich Beem, Sky Sports announcer and Hong Kong Open exemptee who forfeited his slot so that Poulter could get a much-needed start.

Phil Casey with the gory details.

Doug Ferguson tracked down Beem to find out what went into a decision where he only asked for an exemption into next year's Hong Kong Open. Even though he stands to be a focus of derision should Poulter get his game together and kill Team USA in next year's Ryder Cup.

Beem, who won the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine, spent most of the year working as an analyst for Sky Sport. He said the Hong Kong Golf Club is among his favorite in the world, and he talked his family into taking one more trip, tapping into his airline miles to get a ticket.

"I want to play in the worst way," Beem said. "But there were no other options, and I'm not going to keep a guy from losing all his status and not be eligible for the Ryder Cup. So I stepped aside. I didn't think twice about it or ask for huge demands."

If Poulter starts playing better and makes the Ryder Cup team, Beem's gesture will be remembered. But be nice America, it wouldn't be a modern Ryder Cup without Poulter!