I’M PUTTING MY LEGACY ON THE LINE
Harrington thrilled to land the Euro captaincy but knows defeat will tarnish his glittering CV
PADRAIG HARRINGTON fears he’s putting his career legacy on the line by taking the Ryder Cup captaincy.
The Irishman was yesterday confirmed as the man to lead Europe in next year’s big biennial battle with the USA at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin.
It’s a decision that proved a no-brainer for the European Tour’s selection committee – which includes the three previous captains Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley – given Harrington’s popularity in the States and exemplary career record.
But that’s exactly what Harrington believes he is risking now by accepting the role as a defeat next year would tarnish a glittering CV that boasts back-to-back Open titles and a USPGA triumph.
Harrington knows all that counts for nothing in the kangaroo court that sits in judgment of every captain – most notoriously Sir Nick Faldo, whose abject tenure at Valhalla in 2008 is still cast up as much as his glory-laden playing career. Having played under Faldo in that team, thrashed 16.5 to 11.5 by the Americans, he’ll have seen good examples of what not to do to prepare his players.
But despite his experience as a six-time team member, and vice-captain at the last three Ryder Cups at Le Golf National, Hazeltine and Gleneagles, Harrington still fears the consequences of failure next year.
He said: “It’s something I did think long and hard about.
“It’s possibly easier to be Ryder Cup captain at home but I realise it was good timing in my career and probably the best chance for the team in an international setting, going to the US having me as captain at this time.
“Then it really came down to whether I wanted to be in the hat and put what is a successful career on the line.
“It is a different element to your career and we know a successful captain is great and a losing captain, it’s his fault. I am putting something on the line going out there.
“I’m well aware it’s win or nothing, that’s the way it goes. You go out there and win and you’re a successful captain. You lose, you’re not.
“I’m aware I could have
I’m well aware it’s win or nothing, that’s how it goes .. it’s not something I take on without a bit of trepidation PADRAIG HARRINGTON ON HIS CAPTAINCY ANXIETIES
passed up on this and just kept on going as a nice tournament golfer. When you’re a Ryder Cup captain you’re putting the history of your game – your legacy – on the line.”
Harrington’s half a dozen tours of duty as a player, stretching back to Brookline in 1999, have been mostly successful. He was on the winning team in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010.
He succeeds Bjorn as captain for next year’s contest at Whistling Straits where Europe defend the trophy won in convincing fashion in Paris in September.
Harrington, currently out of action after slipping on the stairs at home over Christmas and breaking a bone in his wrist, said: “Obviously I’m thrilled to be named as Ryder Cup captain for 2020, it’s not something I went into lightly.
“You could look at this as being a natural progression from player to vice-captain to captain but it’s not something I take on without a certain amount of trepidation.
“I really want to be a help, I want to hopefully leave the European Tour and Ryder Cup in a better place after two years. But I know we are going to a new venue, it’s an away match, we’re going to have on average three more rookies coming into the team.
“And I have to be part of that team and ensure I find an edge to make the team perform to the best of their abilities and
hopefully win. It does make my job easier that I feel I have the confidence of the players.
“There’s no doubt I’m excited with the whole idea. We’ve had some great captains and I’ve learned from them all.
“But it is daunting because you want to do a good job. Thomas has left it in a very strong place.
“I will try to bring that all together and hopefully say the right things at the right time and get the best out of that team that provides a winning performance.”
Former captain McGinley, now a Sky Sports analyst, welcomed the appointment of his compatriot who is the third Irishman to land the skipper role in the last four Ryder Cups. McGinley said: “It’s a natural graduation, part of the succession plan that has been in place and that’s one of the reasons why we’ve had so much success.
“He’s a deep-thinker, somewhat of a left-field thinker. He’ll be very diligent, there’s no doubt about that.
“It’s a big task. Winning away from home is a lot more difficult than winning at home. But he’s got a lot of things in his favour.
“I think Thomas was blessed with the best team we’ve ever had in France. I think Padraig will be blessed with an even better team.
“And secondly the course is a European style, it’s windy and has a links feel to it.”