Calls for Padraig Harrington to be picked for September’s Ryder Cup grow louder following his strong display after two rounds of the Genesis Scottish Open.
Harrington, 51, battled the trough early morning conditions to walk from the course with a sizzling 66 to be then clubhouse leader in the $US 9m event being hosted on the Renaissance course to the east of Edinburgh.
The Dubliner’s round included eight birdies, none better than hitting a 250-yard second shot at the ninth hole of his round to just 18-inches.’
And Harrington was bullish about his chances going into the weekend and with Tour officials bringing today’s (Saturday) well forward and finish before predicted heavy afternoon rain.
A ‘younger’ Padraig Harrington in the winning 2010 European team and now being mentioned as a possible playing member of Luke Donald’s 2023 Rome Ryder Cup team
“If I play the same way I played the first few days and hole a few putts, I’d like things to stay as they are. I’m in a nice place at the moment,” said Harrington.00:0
“Clearly if the leader gets away, the worse the conditions the better to try and catch somebody, so I’ll make the most of whatever I get but I certainly don’t feel like I need bad weather to be competitive.”
Harrington has not been a playing member of a European Ryder Cup side since being a member of Colin Montgomerie’s 2010 Celtic Manor winning side. He was then chosen as a vice-captain in 2014, 2016 and 2018 before being appointed the 2021 European Captain.
However, with enormous success on the PGA Champions Tour including four wins last year, and then last month’s successful defence in one of those four, there’s many who believe Harrington would an ideal playing member in Luke Donald’s Rome team,
“We’ll see more after these couple of weeks,” said Harrington.
“This is the best I’ve played, these two rounds tee-to-green in a long time. I’ve been playing better and getting better and doing things better and the Champions Tour’s gotten me focused better and I’ve started putting better, and yeah, this week with an eye on next week, I was trying to get my head in the right place for next Thursday and I’ve managed to do that a week early.
“So yeah, I’m in a nice place and I’ll see how I play over the next two weeks and then I’ll have a chat with Luke and if necessary, I’ll change my schedule and come back and play a few in Europe which I hadn’t planned.
“My intention was to play some Champions Tour events but if I’m genuinely in contention then I’m prepared to make the effort and come back and prove it.”
If Donald should choose Harrington, and who turns 52 at the end of next month, would become the oldest Ryder Cup player, claiming that record from Ray Floyd, who was 51 and 20 days when he teed up at The Belfry in 1993.
