Harrington deals his Ryder Cup chances blow after playing dream and dinner snub
Padraig Harrington has played down his chances of making a shock return to the European Ryder Cup team, despite playing himself into contention in recent months.
Harrington captained the Europeans at the last Ryder Cup, as they fell to a defeat at the hands of their American rivals at Whistling Straits. Two years on Team Europe will no doubt be out for revenge, especially as they host the Americans on home soil.
Despite a heavy defeat in 2021, the feeling around European golf is a positive one. The continent will of course be led by two of the world's best in Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, with Norweigan Viktor Hovland also emerging as one of the sport's top names.
English duo Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton also appeared to have found their best game in 2023 too, with their form books looking impressive heading into September.
Throw in three major champions in Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry and Justin Rose and the Europeans have a strong core in pursuit for redemption. The final four places are slightly less concrete, with a whole host of rising rookies bidding to catch the eye of captain Luke Donald and make their first Ryder Cup appearance.
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But while most of the concentration has been on bringing through new blood since the defeat in Wisconsin two years ago, one man who has emerged from the other end of the career ladder is 2021 captain Harrington. In recent weeks much has been said about the Irishman making a return to the playing squad at Marco Simone.
Harrington himself though believes he has not done enough. Having enjoyed plenty of senior success since competing on the PGA Tour Champions - including four second place major finishes and the U.S. Senior Open title - the former skipper has also impressed back on the regular tour against the game's modern stars.
Padraig Harrington acted as captain back in 2021 (Getty Images)The Irishman recently recorded a tied-42nd finish and a tied-64th finish at the Scottish Open and Open Championship respectively, but believes these finishes, in unison with his lack of golf on the regular tours, has done his Ryder Cup chances damage. Speaking to Mirror Sport, he said: "Unfortunately I think I haven’t done enough.
"As I’m playing such a limited schedule on the regular tour, I needed to do more in the Scottish [Open] and The Open, those in particular. I needed to push forward, but I just think I haven’t played enough events to give myself a better [chance], I know there are a couple of events to go but even then."
Harrington went on to add that he had discussed the possibility of being picked with captain Donald, but did not attend a dinner at last month's Scottish Open, where the Englishman hosted a group of his Ryder Cup hopefuls. "I have talked to Luke about it [being selected], we have talked about it," he added.
Luke Donald was vice-captain to Padraig Harrington in 2021"But I think he had about 18 of his players at a dinner in Scotland and I was not there so I was always outside that fringe, so I needed to push on in Scotland and The Open.” Whilst his chances have taken a hit, the fact that Harrington has even entered the playing conversation deserves applauding, having been the man in charge two years ago.
And even after taking on the captaincy for 2021, the Irishman revealed that he had never given up hope of competing as a player once again. "Golfers are dreamers, well they should be dreamers anyway!” he laughed. “I am always dreaming.
"I get up and practice and every time I go to the range it is an opportunity to look forward and hope. There is always a possibility of doing something. I am delighted I am playing well. I felt physically I was playing well the last couple of years, sometimes not so hot mentally but the Champions Tour has really helped me in that department… You have to create your own reality and believe it.”
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