Harrington’s Ryder Cup hopes banking on Barclays

Ryder Cup veteran Padraig Harrington knows his task at the weekend. Either win at The Barclays event in America this weekend or face the prospect of missing the final team selection for the first time in seven Ryder Cup tournaments.

By Declan Whooley

European captain Jose Maria Olazabal does not appear to be in favour of choosing the Dubliner as a wildcard, stating last month that the three-time Major winner would need to do something “exceptional” to make his selection which will be announced on Monday.

Olazabal has opted for picking two wildcards, with the American team electing to pick four. Unfortunately for Harrington, Sergio Garcia’s first win on the US Tour in four years means he is now guaranteed his place, along with eight others. Martin Kaymer currently fills the final automatic spot, with Ian Poulter and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts favoured to take the two captain’s picks.

Harrington is aware of the magnitude of the challenge that faces him. “Obviously I’m not in the reckoning as it stands so I have to do something exceptional and I hope winning The Barclays would be exceptional,” he told The Irish Daily Star.

The Portmarnock man is regretting his decision not to compete for more points during the season. “I do rue the fact that I didn’t play in the four World Golf Championship events and I didn’t play in the two Tour Championships at the end of the year. When you’re not picking up those easy points, it’s hard to do things.”

Let’s hope Padraig can pull a win out of the bag and make the team to face the Americans at Medinah next month. His record at the Majors this year has been impressive (one of only five Europeans to make every cut), and this weekend would be the perfect reminder to Olazabal of what he bring to the European challenge.

Maybe Jose Maria’s vice captains, Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke, can have a word too.