Padraig Harrington has no major worries ahead of Ryder Cup
In a non-Covid world, Padraig Harrington would have packed his bags and flown out to Whistling Straits yesterday as European Ryder Cup captain. Instead, he is preparing to play at the Irish Open.
On Sunday night, across the Atlantic, just one European player finished in the top 10 of the US Open: Rory McIlroy.
In addition, there have been just five winners from the continent of the past 22 Majors. And, should an American win in Augusta in November, it would be a first US clean sweep in a calendar year since 1982.
In McIlroy and Jon Rahm, Harrington has just two players in the world’s top 10 and he admitted he fluctuates from thinking whether the year’s delay will be to Europe’s advantage or not.
“Sometimes I think, ‘Gee whizz, the US players are in great form [when you look at the rankings]’,” he said. “Other weeks, you look at Rory and Jon leading the way. It’s swings and roundabouts.”
Harrington, though, is not unduly concerned. It could be argued the situation was not dissimilar at Le Golf National in 2018, with the Americans predicted to dominate, although the next edition will be in the United States.
The 49-year-old, himself a three-time Major winner, makes no secret of the fact he wants Europeans of a similar stature.
“It’s great to have Major winners in the team,” he said. “They carry a lot of weight when it comes to leading the rest of the team, they carry a little intimidation on the golf course, players of stature that the rookies look up to.”
Of that team from Paris two years ago, half missed the cut at Winged Foot. Despite that, Harrington believes Europe is on the precipice of first-time Major winners.
“We’ve got European players that are in good places,” he said. “Jon, we assume, will go on to win many Majors, and I’d put Tommy Fleetwood in that category, too.
“Tommy will carry the pressure and burden for a year or two before he’s more comfortable but he’s still young and working out what’s best to win Majors. His game is already good enough to win, it’s about finding his place at the Majors.”
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