It comes as no surprise Graeme McDowell has been named as a 2021 European Ryder Cup captain whereas it is a surprise double major winning Martin Kaymer will join Padraig Harrington’s Whistling Straits support staff.
Both McDowell and Kaymer have written their names into Ryder Cup folklore with McDowell holing the winning putt at the 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales and then two years later, it was Kaymer who holed the victory putt at the ‘Miracle of Medinah.
McDowell, as Harrington revealed, has been aware of his appointment for some time given he was a member of Thomas Bjorn’s 2018 support team at Versailles.
‘G Mac’ is a veteran of four Ryder Cup’s starting out in 2008 at Valhalla and then played in three straight European winning teams.
Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer join Padraig Harrington’s 2021 Ryder Cup support staff
Kaymer has player of three of four winning European Teams, will be heading to Whistling Straits where in 2010 he captured the PGA Championship that led to his selection later that year.
“I’m delighted to welcome Martin and Graeme as vice captains, both of whom I believe will bring experience, knowledge, and a great balance to the team room,” said Harrington.
“They have both contributed winning points in Ryder Cup history, have been there and done it, and the other players look up to them. They both have that aura and responsibility in that what they say will have meaning.
“Martin is somebody I wanted as a vice captain because he has a great personality and brings a calmness, a European element, and a lot of confidence with him.
“The fact that he won around Whistling Straits also brings that level of authority and assurance that you need.
“I decided on Graeme as a vice captain a long time ago”, said Harrington. “He was Vice Captain in 2018 with me and I liked what he brought to the team room
“He’s quite an authority, confident in what he’s doing and saying and knows the scene. The only reason he would not have been a vice captain was if he was going to be a player.
“Graeme is a strong influence and the players look up to him. When he speaks, people listen, but he doesn’t speak unless he’s got something to say. I definitely saw that when he was vice captain previously – players pay attention and follow him.”
You could argue Kaymer’s appointment comes as a surprise given he’s only aged 36 but as the German points out, what an honour.
“When Pádraig approached me, I felt very honoured immediately. It means a lot to us Europeans, especially for me as a German making the winning putt in 2012,” said Kaymer.
“The Ryder Cup means a lot. I would have liked to be part of this year’s Ryder Cup team for sure, in whatever position.
“Obviously before Padraig approached me I was trying to make the team as a player and I still do want to do that, but you feel honoured and it tells you a lot about what the Captain and the whole team behind him think about you and how they value you. It was a really nice moment.
“I’m more the person talking to the guys, more of the personal stuff, a bit more of the mental side. I feel like I’m a fairly calm person when I’m playing golf and through my experience I know what they all go through, whether that’s the guys that might be playing the Ryder Cup for the first time or guys that I have played Ryder Cups with before, so I think I understand the feelings quite well.”
McDowell described it as a “great honour” adding: “If you can’t play on the team, being part of the support network and the vice captaincy is the next best thing, and I was very proud to do it in 2018.
“It’s a lot of fun, it’s a different perspective on the Ryder Cup, but I certainly really enjoyed it. I knew Pádraig wanted me as part of the staff and it’s a huge honour. Pádraig is one of my heroes and such an iconic figure in Irish golf. To have him captaining a Ryder Cup team is fantastic for Europe.
“In 2018, some of the biggest things I learned were how to handle players, how to communicate with players, which players require a lot of communication, and which players you just wind them up and let them go.”
