GOLF Harrington in a field of three for 2020 captaincy
PADRAIG HARRINGTON has at least two rivals for the Ryder Cup 2020 captaincy but he’ll have to wait a little longer to learn whether or not he’ll be handed the role for the tournament at Whistling Straits.
According to European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley, there has been little or no progress in selecting the successor to Europe’s victorious 2018 captain Thomas Bjorn.
‘There will be no meetings until after the DP World Tour Championship [on the Earth course at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai],’ admitted Pelley.
‘There are a maximum of three names in contention, [but] even if there is a name that individual has not been put forward, as happened with Colin Montgomerie, if we feel this person would be better here and we should expedite this, that’s the conversation that we would have.’
Meanwhile, China’s Li Haotong fired five birdies on the front nine to grab a three-stroke advantage over holder Justin Rose and Alexander Levy on day three at the Turkish Airlines Open.
Starting the third round three shots off the pace, Li turned in 29 before sinking an eagle at the 10th hole to claim a two-shot lead. Another birdie at the 12th saw the 23-year-old Li, who won the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this season, sign for a 63 to set the clubhouse target at 17 under.
‘It’s going to be an exciting day tomorrow and I’m looking forward to going against Rosey,’ said Li. ‘I got a lot of confidence from Dubai and since then I’ve been playing a lot of big events.’
For the Irish trio of Paul Dunne, Shane Lowry and Harrington, a top-10 finish is probably their realistic aim. Dunne shot a twounder 69 to be eight shots behind Li on nine under, while Lowry’s 67 has him a shot behind. Harrington signed for a level-par 71 and is seven under overall.
Rose, meanwhile, pledged to put his foot down after suffering a costly concentration lapse in Antalya.
Rose began the third round at the Regnum Carya Golf Resort with a two-shot lead, but ended it three behind Li after hitting three balls into the water in the space of nine holes in an uncharacteristically untidy 69.
Li leads both Rose and France’s Alexander Levy, with 2016 winner Thorbjorn Olesen a stroke further back.
‘I struggled with my focus and concentration and made a couple of questionable decisions,’ admitted Rose, who will replace Brooks Koepka as world No 1 if he can make the first successful title defence of his career.
‘It was maybe a little bit of tiredness at the end of a long season so I have to make sure I come out on Sunday more focused.
‘Three balls in the water and still shot 69 so there’s some good stuff still happening. It was a bit of a disappointing finish but there is so much golf to be played and I am not really too fussed about the position I’m in.
‘Being three shots back you have to put your foot down and go for it. It does not mean reckless aggression, but you have to pick your moments.
‘In some ways there’s nothing to lose and everything to gain. I’m going to have to shoot in the mid 60s and it’s maybe easier than if I was one ahead.’
Li has finished no worse than 11th in his last three starts and birdied four of the last six holes to edge out playing partner Rory McIlroy in the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic in January.
England’s Danny Willett and Sam Horsfield are five shots off the pace on 12 under, with Tommy Fleetwood and South Africa’s Thomas Aiken a shot back.