The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Padraig’s an open champion
Padraig Harrington has wasted no time in showing he is going to do things his way after being named Europe captain for the 2020 Ryder Cup in Wisconsin.
I know Padraig well, we played in the Walker Cup together in our amateur days, and I’m not surprised to see him openly touching on subjects such as Rory McIlroy, captain’s picks and Whistling Straits in his first day on the job.
His first order of business was a vote of confidence for Rory who, as I discussed last week, has been making headlines for his decision to base himself on the PGA Tour in America this year.
There are fears, unfounded I must say, that Rory is turning his back on Europe but he is not and clearly his captain doesn’t feel that way either.
That’s why Padraig spent time extolling Rory’s virtues and commitment to the European team. It’s good man-management on his part and an early indicator of the supportive skipper he will be.
The captain’s picks is another facet of the job which he is looking at already. Thomas Bjorn had four picks for Le Golf National last year but Padraig is not sure he will follow suit. He is pondering having nine members qualify automatically and reducing his picks to three but wants to look at the statistics before making a final decision.
Then there is Whistling Straits, the venue of next year’s match. Padraig has wasted little time in talking up our chances of retaining the Ryder Cup on US soil, even at this early stage, and I can see why.
The course reminds me of Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart in that it plays firm, bouncy, and not too dissimilar to a links-style set-up.
The stereotypical US venues of Oakland and Valhalla, which have favoured the hosts previously, won’t come into play next year and, crucially, I expect the European guys who play will have experience of the course from playing majors there.
“Forget keeping his cards close to his chest... he’s not afraid to give his opinion”
Knowing Padraig as I do, none of his early willingness to share his thoughts surprises me. Forget keeping his cards close to his chest, he is one of the game’s deep thinkers, a complex individual who analyses every detail and is not afraid to give his opinion. That’s why the media will revel in his press conferences.
He will be happy to tell everyone not only his decisions but the thought processes behind them. Whether you agree with them or not, you will know why, whether you are a player, a journalist or a fan. He’s a great appointment.