Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley delivered a chilling ultimatium to the likes of fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington that longtime friendship counts for nothing when it comes to Gleneagles selection.
Harrington has not pulled on the European Team colours since his somewhat controversial ‘wildcard’ pick by Colin Montgomerie for the 2010 encounter at Celtic Manor.
Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington celebrate victory in the 2002 Ryder Cup.
The triple Major winner last week earned his first decent finish since the 2014 Ryder Cup process commenced last September with his share of fifth in the Volvo Champions.
The effort saw Harrington move into 43rd place on the European Points List with 219,405 points but a massive 1,224,354 points adrift of fellow former Irish Open winner, Jamie Donaldson holding the fourth and final place from those who will qualify from this list.
“I will be making all my decisions from a European Team perspective and not from an Irish perspective and of course, I will be leaving nationality and friendships at the door,” insisted McGinley.
“That’s what I have to do as a Ryder Cup captain. I will confront Padraig but my decisions will be evidence based. If Padraig is going to be a pick then show me the evidence.
“Let me see how he plays in the summer and let me see where he’s at. Padraig had a great result last week and I was pleased to see how well he played, and of course I would love to see Padraig in my team
“Both Padraig and Shane (Lowry) have to prove it to me ‘Look! There’s my record this year and that’s how well I have played this. And I’ve played X amount of tournaments. And I’ve won three Majors. So there’s my package.
“However I am not going to say anything about Padraig’s game as he knows his game and what he’s capable of better than anybody.
“He had a great week last week and I know he’s motivated to make the team, and I know he’s still real excited about his career and I would love to see him pushing on from his great start to the season.
“So keep pushing on, keep pushing on. Give me a reason to pick you. If you don’t make the team show me your C.V. and a reason to pick you. But let’s see how he goes in over the next nine months.”
It was a year ago this week McGinley created golfing history in becoming the first-ever Irish born captain of a European Ryder Cup team.
And while McGinley’s world has been turned virtually upside down as he deals with the countless challenges he’s recalled that night ahead of today’s (THUS) start to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
“I was just so excited the committee had decided I was going to be next Ryder Cup captain because I remember going into the room and Thomas (Bjorn) said you’ve been voted Ryder Cup captain, obviously you’ll accept it,” said McGinley.
“I said I would, thanks, and spoke for about five minutes. To be honest I can’t remember a word I said. I told them I’d do the job to the best of my ability and not just represent the Ryder Cup team but the European Tour as well.
“And since accepting the role there is two things I’ve learned. Firstly, delegation is really important and compartmentalisation is too, making sure that when I’ve got one that on, I concentrate fully on that aspect, then when I complete that task, concentrate entirely on something else.”
McGinley is among a big field of 11 Irish, headed by World No. 7 Rory McIlroy teeing up in this week’s $US 2.7m event.
