European Ryder Cup captain Paul Captain admits he’s concerned by Ian Poulter’s downturn in form this year.

Poulter thrives in the biennial event against the United States, winning all of his matches in the 2012 ‘Miracle of Medinah’, where Europe fought back from four points down on a memorable final day.

Ian Poulter during the Saturday morning foursomes at the 2012 Ryder Cup 2012. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.Golffile.ie)

However, the Woburn golfing wonder may not automatically qualify for this autumn’s contest at Gleneagles if there is not a turnaround in this 2014 fortunes given Poulter has had just one top-five finish after finishing second, fifth and second in the final three events of last season.

Heading into this week’s European Tour flagship BMW PGA Championship Poulter is ranked 11th overall and just two places outside the top-nine that will automatically qualify for September’s showdown against Tom Watson’s USA side.

There is the likes of Lee Westwood ranked 12th overall, Francesco Molinari (13th), 2010 winning hero Graeme McDowell (17th) and double Ryder Cup star Peter Hanson (35th) all behind Poulter.

“I spoke to Ian for a good 45 minutes on the phone last week and we had a really good chat. He knows he has my support like all the players do.

“He’s determined to be there but he has to earn his place. I’ve said it before and I told him last week, he has to earn his place. He knows that.”

Poulter knows only too well from past experiences that unless he fails to automatically qualify he will, and he had to do in 2010, rely on McGinley choosing him as one of the Irishman’s three ‘wildcard’ picks.

Both McGinley and Poulter will tee up in this week’s European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.