Mired in a stretch of indifferent golf during which his world ranking has dropped to 85th, Ian Poulter has decided to step away from the game to deal with a painful arthritic condition in his right foot, according to the Associated Press.

The Englishman told the AP that he finds it difficult even to walk and practice.

Having missed back-to-back cuts in Texas, Poulter skipped this week’s Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, but had been scheduled for Monday’s 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier in Jacksonville, Fla. Instead, his streak of 40 consecutive appearances in the major championships will come to an end.

Poulter, 40, had played in every major dating to the 2006 U.S. Open.

More noteworthy, however, is that Europe likely will be without his fiery presence at the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2006. In five appearances in the biennial matches against the U.S., Poulter has gone 12-4-2, with Europe going 4-1 with him on the team. Unforgettable is Poulter’s magic at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club in 2012, an incredible stretch of five consecutive birdies as dusk settled in on a coolish Saturday night. Teammate Rory McIlroy just sat back with wide eyes and a wider smile as Poulter single-handedly beat Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner in a four-ball match that gave the Euros momentum upon which they built in Sunday singles.

Famously, Lee Westwood later said that the Europeans “have actually revised the qualification for next (Ryder Cup). It’s nine spots, two (captain’s) picks and Poults. (It is) the ‘Poults clause.’ ”

At the interview table that Sunday, Poulter smiled proudly. He brought his spirit to a 2014 victory in Scotland, too. Only now, with his play in a funk and his foot problem being addressed, Poulter is likely to be at Hazeltine National only as a captain’s assistant. He sits 42nd and 38th in the two Ryder Cup lists that Europe uses to field its nine automatic picks.

“I think he would have stepped up his game probably to even be picked, even with his record,” fellow Englishman Luke Donald said. “(But) you never doubt Poults, because he is such a strong mind. He probably would have played well the next three months and gotten himself on that team.

“It will be a bit of a loss for the Europeans. He brings a lot of energy and a lot (of the attitude that) he’ll get it done, no matter what. People feed off that.”

McIlroy said he was hopeful that Poulter would still be part of the team, perhaps as an assistant to Captain Darren Clarke. “He’s been such a stalwart for us,” McIlroy said.

But the Northern Irishman made an astute observation, saying that in some ways Clarke’s job has been made easier.

“Poults was in a position where he might not have qualified for the team, but it’s tough not to include him,” McIlroy said.

“It might have put Darren in a difficult spot (pressuring to make Poulter a captain’s pick). That might not be the case now.”

Poulter has not won since 2012. In 13 PGA Tour tournaments this season, he owns only one finish inside the top 25: a third place in Puerto Rico. He has missed four cuts, and he told the AP that his priority now was rest and recovery.