Born eleven days after Tiger Woods, Ian Poulter was the anti-Eldrick, the star no one saw coming — except Poulter himself. Turns out, unwavering self-assurance can be very rewarding. The day we caught up to him at Orlando's gated golf course community of Lake Nona, Poulter, 35, was between shoots for Cobra and Jaguar. He was still basking in the glow of Europe's victory in the Ryder Cup, where Poulter went 3-1. The Cup has kinged Poulter, who with his wife, Katie, has three kids, along with a sprawling Lake Nona home under construction, luxury cars and a customized golf cart with "Poults" emblazoned on the front.

As he prepares to defend his title at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson in February, Poulter has never been hotter. He owes it all to the Ryder Cup, match play and his self-belief. In the Lake Nona clubhouse, the Englishman talked about his match play dominance, stroke-play struggles, his cult following on Twitter, and what pole-vaulting has to do with cheap golf clubs. There are some points about his golf life and you can have a better understanding about him.

You're 3-0 at the Ryder Cup in singles, and 18-7 at the WGC-Accenture Match Play. Impressive, but you've got just one win on Tour. Why?

I've yet to transfer that to a stroke play event. Obviously, something's different. What that difference is.. I've been trying to think about it, and I guess it's the fear of losing within 18 holes with my best golf clubs, or the excitement of winning as quickly as possible. Seventy-two holes is so different than when you've got 18 and that stopwatch is running.

You get into a very focused state when you compete. How do you get into that state, especially for singles?

It's a focus thing. I don't do anything different. I don't practice any different. I think about what needs to happen, about the golf course, about certain holes and pin positions. I collate all the information and build that into an intensity that I want to hold for the week.

Are you sharper for a singles event at the Ryder Cup than at the Match Play?

Yes, by a mile. There's nothing close. Nothing gets me any more prepared than the Ryder Cup. I got the bug when I was 17 at the Belfry in 1993. I stayed in a tent three miles down the road with two friends. We walked to the course every day. I saw Nick Faldo make a hole-in-one.

When you were a club pro, your boss said you were the most confident person he'd ever seen. Johnny Miller said the same thing during last year's Ryder Cup. Is anyone more confident?

There might be, but I haven't met them yet. I work under the philosophy "never say never" — in business, golf or whatever. I don't understand how your whole brain works, but I understand it's really powerful. What fascinates me is when you apply yourself and when you focus properly, what can happen. Your focus shrinks, but your target widens. You can log it — the best golf anybody's ever seen is in the Ryder Cup, every time. Why is that? You get more hole-outs in three days than you do in a month otherwise. It's bizarre.

Is beating Tiger in match play still on your to-do list?

I guess. I haven't beat him in match play with my TaylorMade R9 driver, yet. I'd like to at some stage. He fascinates me that way. He's someone who's been able to control his intensity to a level that far outweighs anybody else.