A changing of the guard EUROPE captain Padraig Harrington wants a “seriously big party” at the Ryder Cup in September – but warned not all of the old guard will be on the guest list. Golf’s biggest event was postponed last year because the pandemic prev
PADRAIG READY FOR NEW RYDER CUP ERA
Desert Classic today, with veterans Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey all outside the nine automatic spots.
US skipper Steve Stricker now has six wild-card picks. But Harrington said: “I didn’t want any more than three. I believe that players should be given the right to qualify. If you play well, you will make the team.
“As regards to the age of players, yeah, an extra year is going to be a year too far for some of the older guys. There is a little bit of a changing of the guard.
“I am looking forward to seeing a few rookies come through in the next eight months and set themselves out as the new stars.
“There might be half a dozen guys who were stalwarts. Maybe three have moved on and three will make the team, and I might pick one or two of the others.”
Harrington has so far named only Robert Karlsson as a vice-captain but Graeme McDowell is set to join his staff, while Lee Westwood and Poulter could also be added to the backroom squad if they do not make the team.