European Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal declared it’s ‘B***S***’ suggestions there is any friction between he and Padraig Harrington stemming from an incident nine years ago at the Seve Trophy.
With just three days before Olazabal names his two ‘wildcard’ picks the Spaniard is finding there is no getting away from talk of his relationship with the triple Major winning Irishman.
Jose Maria Olazabal surrounded by the media (including Bernie in red pullover) after his second round at Gleneagles. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Olazabal had just recorded a second round 69 for a three over par that saw him miss the halfway cut in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
A day earlier, Olazabal commented on Harrington’s score of 64 on day one of the PGA Tour’s Barclays Championship saying that Harrington needed to ‘at least win’ to even be considered for a ‘wildcard’ pick.
However no sooner had Olazabal signed his card on day two and he again found himself having to deal with questions concerning Harrington’s chances of playing in a seventh straight Ryder Cup.
“If you look at the list, Harrington is well back on the list and not closer than other players, so he certainly needs a win or a top finish to make the team,” said Olazabal.
“He’s not any different to Sergio (Garcia) is he?
“So, I don’t know what this is all about. He’s an experienced player but at the moment he is not able to deliver, period. And it’s simple as that.”
And Olazabal denied there any lingering bad feelings between he and Harrington following an incident at the 2003 Seve Trophy in Valencia, Spain when Harrington questioned Olazabal’s actions in repairing pitch marks.
Olazabal was so incensed at the time he conceded the hole to Harrington before the match was eventually halved.
“If people believe that is interfering with my judgement then first of all they are completely wrong,” said Olazabal.
“If that was the case I would failing as a captain.
“So to put it gently that’s a lot of B S.”
While Olazabal has the weekend off to further consider his two ‘wildcard’ picks and fourth vice-captain, England’s Mark Foster set about ending a nine-year winless drought.
Foster birdied four holes in succession mid-round in a second four under par 68 to move to eight under par and put himself in position to win for a first time since capturing the 2003 Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
Scotland’s Paul Lawrie (69) and Australia’s Brett Rumford (70) share third place as the afternoon half of the field took to the continued rain-affected course.
