PLAY WELL? THEN YOU’RE ON MY TEAM
Ryder Cup is in Harrington’s sights after delay
APPROACHING 50, Padraig Harrington is adamant he won’t be a playing captain for Europe at the Ryder Cup in September.
Even so, the Dubliner continues to hold back Father Time on both sides of the Atlantic and his ability to compete may act as a spur for Tiger Woods, 45, as he embarks on his recovery from his horror car crash.
‘Those of us within golf will remember the remarkable recovery made by Ben Hogan following the horrific accident he suffered in 1949 when the car he was travelling in with his wife Valerie was crushed by a bus,’ said Harrington yesterday. ‘Hogan was told he would never walk again yet went on to win a further six Majors. If Tiger needs any inspiration, then surely that is it.’
After completing all four rounds under par to finish sixth in Dubai last month, Harrington is proving he can mix it with the PGA Tour pros this week in the $3m Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande.
A second round level par 72 left Harrington on two under par overall and ensured his weekend involvement although he rued a double-bogey seven at the parfive 15th which stymied any move towards the leaders.
The same hole yielded a birdie four for Séamus Power, who also birdied the 18th in a strong finish as he made his first cut of 2021.
Power’s 70 left him five under par, six shots behind clubhouse leader Brandon Wu who added a 67 to his opening 66.
While Ian Poulter made the cut on three under, fellow Ryder Cup contenders, English duo Tom Lewis and Matt Wallace, both crashed out in front of Harrington. Thomas Pieters, who played in the 2016 match in Hazeltine, was motoring well.
Harrington has made a swift return, and recovery, after testing positive for Covid-19 the week of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which meant a period of self-isolation in The Lodge overlooking the first tee for ten days.
‘I basically had what I would call a mild flu and because of that I know I was very lucky. One thing is for sure, Covid-19 is definitely not to be messed with,’ he said.
The break allowed time to assess the Ryder Cup standings, and also his three remaining picks of vice-captain, to follow Robert Karlsson and Luke Donald. ‘The only thing I will say is that, of the three to come, they will all be selected from players who are playing and who don’t make the team. There will be nothing coming out of left field.
‘There’s also no real cut-off point to be honest. I’ve talked to a few of the guys in contention and they know I would love to have them at Whistling Straits in one capacity or another. The good thing is that I still have options,’ he added.
Graeme McDowell, a four-time Ryder Cup player, is expected to be one of those vice-captain should he fail to make the team.
Just as Shane Lowry has been Open champion for over a year and a half, so Harrington has been Ryder Cup captain for longer than expected — he was appointed in January, 2019.
‘Postponing the Ryder Cup was never going to be an easy decision given the many factors to take into consideration on both sides of the Atlantic.
‘But I believe now, as I did last June, that the correct assessment was made given the unprecedented circumstances the world was facing at that time.’
The Ryder Cup delay had a knock-on effect for the qualification process, which Harrington reviewed with Tour chiefs.
All Race to Dubai and world ranking points earned between January 1 and May 9 are being
“I’ve talked to a few of the guys in contention”
“It’s all about giving players a decent chance”
multiplied by 1.5. From May 15 until September 12, they will be doubled. ‘Essentially, if you play well the next seven months, you’ll make the team,’ said Harrington (below). ‘But by also freezing the points gained before the Tour’s shutdown last year and still counting them in the overall reckoning, it also recognises what players did in the latter part of 2019 and the early part of 2020. ‘It’s all about trying to be fair and giving everybody a decent chance of making the team.’