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European Ryder Cup captain certainty Padraig Harrington believes his almost certain Whistling Straits rival, Steve Stricker will be a formidable choice as the USA team leader.

Harrington, and despite an earlier report by www.golfbytourmiss.com he may now have a rival in taking over from Thomas Bjorn, should be voted as 2020 captain in the first or second week of December.

Stricker meanwhile will more than likely be named early in 2019 when the PGA Tour heads into the ‘Florida Swing’ and having played in three Ryder Cups (2008, 2010 and 2012) while he was the victorious 2017 USA Presidents Cup captain.

Steve Stricker – Likely choice as 2020 USA Ryder Cup captain.

And Stricker would be a likely choice given he was proudly born in Wisconsin and where the Ryder Cup is next headed.

“I know Steve from playing with him in the US.  Solid bloke.  Good guy.  Tough.  Yeah, I think wouldn’t be a man to underestimate,” said Harrington.

“This is a guy who has come back from the driver yips in golf.  This is a guy who has become a world‑class player a couple of times later on in his career without the firepower and arsenal that other players have.  You know when you’re going up against a guy like that that he’s mentally tough and strong.

“!Yeah, I think he’s a nice Ryder Cup Captain, as in he ‑‑ he’s like the guy you’re playing against in the golf course; the guy you want to play on the golf course is always a tough guy but a guy who is very straight and that’s Steve Stricker.

“He’s as straight as they come.  You know you’ve got a game when you’re playing against him, but there’s no messing from his side. “