A day after he questioned how it was possible to want to ''kill'' great mates in the Ryder Cup, Ian Poulter yesterday found a staunch ally in the shape of Masters champion Bubba Watson.

''I understand where Poults is coming from,'' Watson said on the final practice day at Medinah. ''I love it. I love watching his passion. The guy is great for the game of golf.''

Poulter's comments came after he was asked if he could see a future in which the biennial contest lost its edge because so many Europeans have homes in the States, something the Florida-based 36-year-old could not see happening.

''It means too much to us for it ever to lose that edge,'' he said. ''This event is unique. I hate to say we don't get on for three days, but there is that divide - and it's not that we don't like each other. We are all good friends, both sides of the pond, but there's something about Ryder Cup which kind of intrigues me.''

And Watson, who lost three of his four matches on his debut at Celtic Manor two years ago, could not agree more.

''It's funny, we're friends with all of them,'' the big-hitting left-hander said. ''We've played golf with all of them for years. We know them all. We know their families.

''It's just that trophy, it's just that little trophy we want to win so bad. So it's really not a dislike for the other team. It's just a dislike for any opponent, no matter who the opponent is.

''It's just like the FedEx Cup. We were mad at (Brandt) Snedeker because he won, and I wanted to win it. But now I'm pulling for that guy.''

Watson would also seem to be ''pulling'' for Poulter, adding: ''As a fan of golf, Ian Poulter is an amazing story. Love Ian Poulter to death.

''It's amazing watching where his career started and where it is now. It's amazing to listen to him talk about where he picked up range balls, he worked in the pro shop, did everything, and now he's at the Ryder Cup. So I love his passion, I respect him very much and I love how passionate he is about winning it.

''It's the little gold Ryder Cup is what we're trying to get, and again it doesn't matter who it is that I'm facing. If I was facing y'all or facing Poulter or facing Phil Mickelson, it's about winning the cup."