Padraig Harrington, as the potential 2022 European Ryder Cup captain, is delighted to see Thomas Bjorn appointed to lead Europe in Paris in 2018.

Harrington was never in the mix to replace Darren Clarke, and those writing he was have got their wires crossed as Bjorn was always going to be the choice.

“I’m very pleased for Thomas getting it,” Harrington told RTÉ Sport. “I saw him behind the scenes at the last Ryder Cup as we were both vice-captains.

“His thought processes and what he said and what he was thinking felt spot on to me. I think he fully understands what he needs to do.

Padraig Harrington endorses good friend Thomas Bjorn as Europe’s next Ryder Cup Captain. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“It was a conscious decision on my part not to go up against Thomas for this captaincy because to be honest, I really want to play in 2018.

“I feel like I can play and the captaincy, having watched Paul McGinley and Clarke, it definitely takes three years out of your playing career.”

Harrington returned to form in 2016, winning the Portugal Masters in October and the three-time major winner is very happy with his game going into the 2017 season.

“I think if I took the captaincy, I’d be telling the world that I am retiring,” said Harrington.

“I’m 45 years of age, so the next two years at 46 and 47, I think I am going to be competitive.

“I really see a lot of good things in my game. I’ve started putting well again and focused on the mental side of the game, which usually brings the best results, because I am quite comfortable with the rest of it.”

Harrington fully understands the commitment needed to become Ryder Cup captain and it remains an ambition, but the Stackstown golfer knows that his stellar playing career does not make him an automatic choice for the role.

“I’d love to be captain down the road, but I understand that pushing it down the road, there will be other players with their names in the hat and I might never get it.

“It’s not a foregone conclusion but hopefully, I’m making the right decision now.”

And Harrington also explained that the role of Ryder Cup captain is often a thankless one, with history judging your performance solely on whether you are victorious or not.

“Paul McGinley set the bar extremely high for any future captain and now every captain will be judged by that standard.

“If you win you are a great captain and if you lose you are a poor captain.

“We’ve seen good captains [who have lost] getting criticised afterwards with little things picked on, and we’ve seen bad captains with a winning team and they come out as heroes.

“Darren put an awful lot into it but really has nothing to show for it at the end of the day.”