IAN POULTER is being offered a staggering £22million to join the Super Golf League — but he would have to snub the Ryder Cup to play.
It is understood Poulter, 46, is among the stars wanted to help the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit get off the ground.
But the PGA and European Tours made it clear any player who joins the new league faces a lifetime ban.
That would mean Ryder Cup hero Poults would be unable to play for Europe against the USA next year.
There is also a possibility Poulter and other breakaway stars will be banned from the majors – the Masters, the US Golf Association, the R&A and the PGA of America could side with the decision made by the PGA and DP World Tours.
Poulter has played in seven Ryder Cups and been dubbed ‘The Postman’ — as he rarely fails to deliver.
The Hitchin-born ace made it clear he wants one more crack at the event and he now faces a massive dilemma.
It is the same for pal Henrik Stenson, 45, who is also wanted by the Saudis. The Swede is one of four candidates to skipper Europe in Rome.
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The Saudi-backed Super Golf League is threatening to tear the golf world apart.
It will apparently start as a 10-event series on the Asian Tour this year.
Golf legend Greg Norman has been named CEO of LIV Golf Investments, which is connected to the series
Both Poulter and Stenson will participate in Saudi International in Jeddah this week, and will collect £11million in appearance fees, report The Telegraph.
They will be joined by Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Tommy Fleetwood, and Lee Westwood, amongst others.
Liv Golf Investments, backed by the PIF – the Saudi Public Investment Fund – will run the 10-event International series, which includes an event in London.
And its chief former world no 1 Norman has had to deny claims of sportswashing, insisting the new competition is designed to grow the games.
He said: “It’s personally disappointing to see some of the attacks that have been taking place unwarrantedly. If you prejudge anybody without knowing the facts then shame on you
“We are setting the Asian Tour up as a powerful new force on the world stage.
“Just because The International Series is associated with the Asian Tour, we want to get the message out there that it’s not specifically for the Asian region.
“Healthy competition and respectful competition should spread golf globally.
“That’s why it’s so encouraging we can go to London, it’ll be so encouraging when we go to the United States.
“This is just the beginning, just the infancy of this journey. We’re not in this for a fight, there’s no question. We’re in this for the good of the game.”
