No Ryder reprieve this time as Harrington’s strategy fails

Pádraig Harrington’s omission from the European Ryder Cup team ends a run which began in 1999 with his debut in the infamous Battle of Brookline.

It was the first of six successive appearances in the match for the Dubliner, who celebrates his 41st birthday on Friday. His record stands at 9 wins, 13 losses and 3 halved matches, not as good, perhaps, as many would have expected of a three-time Major champion. However, only time will tell whether Jose-Maria Olazabal was wise to overlook the experience Harrington brought to Celtic Manor two years ago when he helped a nervous Ross Fisher to wins in foursomes and fourballs.

Whereas it meant everything to Harrington to make the side early in his career, that hardly seemed the case in more recent times. He declined to play in the last counting event in 2010 and so needed a controversial “wild card” pick from Colin Montgomerie to make the side.