Padraig Harrington’s likely USA Ryder Cup rival captain and Wisconsin-native Steve Stricker joked Padraig Harrington will be in for a tough time when he leads his European Team into competition later next year in the Badger State.
Stricker is widely-tipped to be handed the USA Captaincy reins possibly later this month when the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic returns to PGA National and where the PGA of America’s HQ is located.
Like Harrington, Stricker ticks all the USA captaincy boxes and more.
The now 51-year old Stricker has played in three Ryder Cup’s (2008, 2010 and 2012) while he has matched Harrington in being a vice-captain on three occasions (2014, 2016 and 2018).
Steve Stricker jokes that Padraig Harrington will face a tough time in the Badger State. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Stricker also has also played on five winning USA Presidents Cup teams and was captain of the victorious 2017 USA side.
And it came as no surprise to Stricker Harrington should have been handed the European leadership role.
“It really as no surprise Padraig being appointed the next European Team captain as Europe has in place this system where the vice-captains progress to becoming a captain,” said Stricker ahead of teeing-up in this week’s AT & T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
“Padraig is a great guy for the job. He’s a tough competitor.
“I have played alongside Padraig a lot over the years and he’s just a great guy, a nice human being and a pleasure to be around.”
If Stricker is appointed as the 2020 Captain it will be somewhat unique in that he is a Wisconsin-born native having been born in Edgerton, Wisconsin and to the south of the capital, Madison where Stricker resides.
Madison is around 190 kilometres and a two-and-half hour drive north-east of Madison to host Whistling Straits course laid-out along the shoreline of Lake Michigan.
For Harrington, the Dubliner is staring at a leading his European chargers on a 12,000 klm trans-Atlantic round flight.
“The thing that while Padraig is generally well-liked here in the States he probably won’t be that popular come September next year,” said Stricker laughing.
“European Team captains generally are not that popular though on a more-serious note it has got a little testy on both Ryder Cup sides of The Pond in recent matches.
“We saw some scenes at Medinah and then being a US Ryder Cup vice-captain last September in France, there was also some unsavoury moments so it seems it is creeping in to the Ryder Cup which is not nice.
“So, hopefully all will be fine later next year at Whistling Straits.”
Stricker would not be drawn into whether if and when he will officially take over from Jim Furyk whose 2018 side last by seven points.
“I am still focussed on playing and being in contention and trying to win again out here,” said the winner of 12 PGA Tour titles and 14 other wins around the globe.
“That keeps me focussed and that is why I am playing this week at Pebble. I’m trying to work hard and still do good things out here on the Tour.
“Though in saying that, I would love to be a part of the 2020 Ryder Cup in my home State. I would be a huge honour and would be super cool.
“To try and win the cup back for the States right there in Wisconsin would be a great opportunity if they gave me the captaincy, and that’s the part I’m still waiting to hear.
“It’s not up to me but hopefully I will get the opportunity as it will be fun.”
