Padraig Harrington believes it to be a huge compliment to the European Ryder Cup captaincy selection process the move the PGA of America has undertaken in reappointing Davis Love 111 as 2016 USA Ryder Cup Captain.
It is the second straight occasion the PGA of America has appointed a former captain after Love 111 saw the victory carpet pulled out from under his side in the now infamous 2012 ‘Miracle at Medinah’.
Love 111’s appointment follows the decision by the Flordia-based body to hand Tom Watson the lead Gleneagles reins, and 11 years after he had first captained the 1993 USA at The Belfry.
Davis Love 111 reappointed as 2016 USA Ryder Cup captain. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
“What the PGA of America has done today in announcing Davis is a huge compliment to how Europe have gone about choosing a new European Captain,” said Harrington.
“By winning the last three, and also eight of the past 10 Ryder Cup’s, and that’s what over the past two decades, no it’s three decades, what they’ve done is push the US into really caring about the Ryder Cup.
“No longer is it a holiday atmosphere or a friendly three days when they can throw the balls up in the air and go and play because it is a big series of matches these days where the US have been pushed into a corner where they really do care.
“I’ve seen that behind the scenes and especially last year at Gleneagles as the older guys were devastated to lose again.
“And while the European Tour doesn’t have near the size of structure that was in place to reappoint Davis, the European captain selection process has also undergone change as we saw last week with Darren’s appointment.
“But then I can see the European Captain selection process changing as well if we were to start losing like the Americans, so in saying that it’s good the US are changing.”
And Harrington ruled out any suggestions of judging Love 111s appointment as ‘revenge’ or ‘getting square’ despite his own surprise in the reappointment of his fellow PGA champion.
“I wouldn’t use the word revenge but I see it more as a redemption for Davis and I see it as a big upside for him rather than a big downside,” said Harrington.
“I have to say I was a little surprised because I thought they would ask Paul Azinger but then I heard he wasn’t available but then Davis was a great captain at Medinah and clearly they are giving him another chance.
“Then if he had of led the team to victory in 2012 would have he been appointed captain for 2016? No. I don’t think he would have. He did a great job at Medinah. Should have got across the line first but things conspired against him at the end of the day and it was just fate it turned against him.
“Also they could have gone outside the box and choose someone like a Scott Verplank or a Justin Leonard as Europe did in appointing Paul McGinley.
“But then Davis is a super nice guy, and while I’m not saying other captains have not been nice guys, he’s a tough, tough opponent and he will very much mimicking the Paul McGinley line of going about his duties.”
