For Padraig Harrington the words Bethpage may become ones he way never want to hear again after this weekend, if he fails to find his game face for The Barclays, the first in the FedEx Cup play-offs. Or indeed it may become a place synonymous with Ryder Cup history as Gleneagles became for Eduardo Molinari in 2010 when he qualified on the last day, and as Sedgefield in Greensboro will become for Sergio Garcia, who with his first PGA win in four years resumes a playing role at Medinah Country Club next month in the 39th Ryder Cu matches. His unbroken link with the event maintained courtesy of Captain Colin Montgomerie’s invitation to be a Vice Captain at The Celtic Manor two years ago.
So strong was the Spaniards record, particularly on US soil that Monty felt it worth the gamble to bring him, and even today the photographs of those weather torn days in the Welsh Valleys proved that the man form Castellon has a special affinity for the biennial golfing event. With Jose Maria Olazabal now as Captain, and in the first event since Seve Ballesteros premature death in Pedreña in 2011, the week in Illinois will be no doubt be filled with the Spaniards competitive sprit. Mostly through the captain, who steered a partnerships on many occasions with Ballesteros – through both the good and bad. As both players are from the rainy North of Spain. Albeit Santander and Hondarribia are very different cultures, they were kindred spirits off and off the course. Bit noire especially in Ryder Cup contests.
The magic of Garcia to qualify in his last event shows a man focussed and one who too often tied with the El Nino tag failed to deliver the promise of riches in the Majors, with his more recent few years a sad spectacle at times. Indeed that shortage of trophies made all the more tangible as the newer boys come through the ranks and clinch them. Not least being Rory McIlroy - who at 23 years of age - has now held two major trophies and must be a constant reminder for Garcia of what might have been perhaps at the PGA Championship. Played ironically at Medinah Country Club
In contrast to that day when he came second to Tiger Woods, the Ryder Cup has been Sergio's playground and now as a senior mentor - and the only Spaniard in the team - as Miguel Angel Jimenez and Gonzalo Fernando Castaño failed to make the top ten European Money list.
Having lost a number of play-offs to Padraig Harrington over the years, including that other major chance at Carnoustie in 2007 – it may be this time around their fortunes have reversed and the Dubliner will travel at best to Medinah as a Vice Captain. All depending of course whether his date with Beth Page works out over these next few days, as Olazabal has given little indication that a Wild Card is even in the offing. Which for Padraig may prove a blessing as at Celtic Manor his debated selection was never justified in the final analysis. With his record of 7 won, 11 lost and 3 halved in the five events hardly impressive. In Wales it was two points from a four ball and foursomes in total, and in Valhalla it was just a half point. And if the soundings so far from the Team Europe captain accurately reflects his thought process then Harrington may not even figure were he to blast the field in The Barclays and win by a record number of strokes.
However even from 19th place in the Ryder Cup points list he would make a very good case to be considered ahead of Nicolas Colsaerts, Ian Poulter or David Lynn should it come down to the cut-and-thrust. But he can only do that by closing out a season that has not been that bad, and is probably more deserving of a wild card than a couple of years ago when Paul Casey might have merited it more and few things Harrington touched turned to gold. As Ryder Cup captains though there are few tougher than the Spanish, if Ballesteros is the benchmark, as he was fearless with some of his team selections at Valderrama in 1997. No doubting either that Olazabal will be slow to travel to the US relying on players with past records as the pain of Kiawah Island in 1991 would have been relieved at the PGA Championship in Kiawah island a few weeks ago.
Losing at Medinah will not be in Jose Maria’s thoughts. Nor will be risking it with baseless wild cards.
Whatever about the War on The shore, it will be a battle in Illinois come September when the Europeans arrive to defend their Sam Ryder trophy, at a site that has hosted a number of heartbreaking majors – including three US Opens, two PGA Championships and one Senior Open Championship. The last being in 2006 when Tiger Woods won by four strokes – at the top of his powers - and with the prowess that the mere mention of his name seem to kill of opponents. This time Woods is part of the USA team and in a group that has a familiarity to it, with veterans like Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Zach Johnson on board. Also some of the newcomers from Wales, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar and Hunter Mahan. With a revised format Team USA now avoid that two year time lag where players qualify from a previous season and it now ensures they are at their best with the in-form players too.
In Davis Love III they to have an experienced Ryder Cup adversary who will give no quarter at Medinah Country Club.
It is clear though that battle this time will be borne by the younger guns, and so it maybe time for Padraig Harrington to slip gently into a backroom team role and join Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn. Although it has to be said that it might make for a stewards enquiry if the balance were so uneven in favour of the Irish in the 2010 management. So it would seem likely that Olazabal will opt for a Spanish side kick such as El Mecanico, to even out the team room and ensure a wider EU perspective, as well as the availability of cigars during the four days. Albeit those of a Cuban variety remain banned in the USA so Miguel Angel Jimenez will have to choose Dominican Republic leaf as an alternative. Not such a hardship if the Samuel Ryder trophy is retained by Europe on the Sunday afternoon of September 30th.
With five of the 1999 team set to be involved in some capacity in Medinah, the yearning to amend for the collapse at Brookline Country Club no doubt still motivates Captain Olazabal, Vice Captain Clarke, and players like Garcia, Westwood and Paul Lawrie. Adding Harrington would make it six warriors from that day in Boston. But then so would Miguel Angel Jimenez if he were the choice.
In the meantime Harrington needs to shine at The Barclays to end a season that has seen him drag himself back into to the top 60 in the world, and sit just ten places shy of a ranking that would have accorded him invites to the WGC events. Or back to a level which saw a T8 place at The Masters in April and up amongst the big names again. As the owner of three major titles his once unassailable place in the Irish golfing record books is now under sustained attack from McIlroy. It has also been chipped away at by the other talents from the North East coast of Ireland. Graeme McDowell at Pebble Beach in 2010 and Darren Clarke at Royal Ste Georges last year. With the Dungannon man now heading into management it seems and a shoe-in for the Ryder Cup captaincy in 2014 at Gleneagles, and with McDowell finding from once again - having lost the magic dust of 2010 – Harrington deserves some reward for his efforts over the past twelve months.
Or at least some recognition – and s seat in the team room would be a good way to maintain his unbroken record wit the Ryder Cup, which like Sergio Garcia also reaches back to 1999.
But that all depends on Paddy’s date with Beth Page.
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