Triple Major winning Padraig Harrington has taken the first step towards one day being appointed a European Ryder Cup captain after accepting a vice-captaincy role for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
Harrington, who has not been a part of the Ryder Cup since losing to Zach Johnson in the final days Singles in 2010 at Celtic Manor, will join victorious 2012 Medinah winning captain, Jose Maria Olazabal along with fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez as now five vice-captains in Paul McGinley’s European Team.
It now means McGinley has two Irish-born vice-captains in Harrington and Des Smyth and along with team members Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell that is now five Irish present in the full European Team make-up and most of any nation being represented in the European Team at Gleneagles.
The appointment also of Jimenez has to be seen also as a ‘future Ryder Cup captain’ move for the now 50-year old 20-time Tour winner though the only drawback for the pony-tailed Spaniard could be his full grasp of the English language.
Padraig Harrington takes his first step towards becoming a European Ryder Cup captain by accepting a Glenealges vice-captaincy role and joining Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jose Maria Olazabal. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
However Olazabal’s decision to accept a vice-captaincy role comes as a surprise as he’s long been lukewarm on the idea of stepping back into the Ryder Cup arena following the ‘Miracle at Medinhah’.
Aside from that the trio of Harrington, Jimenez and Olazabal boast having played in 17 Ryder Cups with Olazábal leading the way with seven appearance between 1987 and 2006, followed by Harrington with six between 1999 and 2010 and Jiménez with four in the same time period.
“I am delighted to name Padraig, Miguel and José María as the men to join Des and Sam in completing my vice captaincy team for Gleneagles. They will all bring valuable insight and experience to the players and the team room,” said McGinley.
“I know it’s been common in the past to have three or four vice captains but I’ve gone for five because I feel an extra person is justified due to the additional workload which comes from being the home team, in addition to how well I saw such a system working when we ended up having five vice captains under Colin Montgomerie at Celtic Manor in 2010.
“I spoke about the reasons behind choosing Des and Sam in March but the reasons behind having Padraig, Miguel and José María on side are equally compelling.
Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington celebrate victory in the 2002 Ryder Cup.
“Padraig is my oldest friend on Tour and is a guy I have known most of my life,” said McGinley.
“We went to school together, came through the amateur ranks together and have been together in many contests for both Ireland and Europe over the years, so I know what he can bring to the team room.
“As well as being a three time Major Champion, Padraig is also still very active on Tour, obviously in Europe where all the players know him well, but also in the United States where he is familiar both with the Tour itself and its players.
“As far as Miguel is concerned, he is someone that the spectators love as well as being very popular with all the players. However he is also a person that I respect very much. I have sat beside him for over a decade on the Tournament Players’ Committee and have seen him exhibit an integrity on many occasions that is very admirable.
“Miguel’s appointment also maintains the continuity I was looking for when I named him captain of the European team for the inaugural EurAsia Cup match in March. He did very well in Malaysia that week and all the players in that team enjoyed working with him. It will be the same at Gleneagles.
“Finally, José María’s passion for The Ryder Cup is recognised the world over. It was obvious in his legendary partnership with Seve and was also so very apparent two years ago at Medinah, so I’m delighted he has accepted my invitation to be involved again, once more maintaining that important continuity.
“Like Miguel, he brings a wonderful Continental European flavour to the team room and is liked by everyone. He will also bring vital knowledge and experience of every element associated with The Ryder Cup, both on and off the course, which can only be helpful to the European cause.
“With these five guys in place, I have now completed both the playing and back room teams for Gleneagles. I have complete confidence and trust in all five of my vice captains and the help they will give me in the difficult quest of trying to retain The Ryder Cup.”
Harrington, after losing his PGA Tour card and failing to qualify for the FedEx Cup Play-Off Series, is again competing on the European Tour and today’s (THUR) commencing European Masters in Switzerland as he is still short of playing the mandatory 13 events to retain automatic European Tour membership.
“I am really looking forward to being part of The Ryder Cup from a different angle to the playing side,” he said.
“That aspect of things is something that really interests me and I’m therefore delighted that Paul has given me the opportunity.
“Paul is a good friend of mine and I think he’s done a great job in the captaincy thus far, therefore I don’t necessarily think he needs that much help. But he knows I’m happy to get involved behind the scenes to give him and the players as much assistance as I can.
“Even though we are friends, it is good to see that Paul trusts my opinion. We have had many healthy debates over the years on Tour about a wide range of subjects, so in some ways this validates all those discussions!”
Harrington’s appointment could now lead to him gaining more ‘captaincy’ experience at next year’s Seve Trophy and the EurAsia Cup with the possibility of leading Europe in 2018 in Paris, and when Harrington will be 47 years of age.
Jiménez said: “When Paul called inviting me to be one of his vice captains at Gleneagles, I immediately said yes. I am really excited to be involved with the European team once again and I’m honoured that Paul has asked me.
“I thoroughly enjoyed being captain of Europe at the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur in March which was a great opportunity for me and I am looking forward to bringing the experience I gained there to the team room at Gleneagles. I have a great relationship with all the players, having played alongside them regularly over the years.
“It is going to be an amazing week at Gleneagles. We have a great team and as a vice captain I will give the players and Paul my total support and hope that we can retain The Ryder Cup once again.”
Olazábal said: “I was absolutely delighted when Paul approached me and asked me to be a vice captain – I consider it a real privilege and honour to be part of the European Team going to Gleneagles.
“Everyone knows how much The Ryder Cup has meant in my career and it’s an occasion that I love being part of. It is a unique and special event – and I know that will be the case once again in Scotland in three weeks’ time.
“I think we have a very good team in place but as Paul said yesterday, we are under no illusions about how formidable a test the United States team will present. But he knows I will do everything I possibly can to help him and the players throughout the week.”
