Harrington warns against naming Ryder captain in advance

PADRAIG HARRINGTON yesterday warned of the dangers of appointing a Ryder Cup captain more than one contest in advance.

Bernhard Langer’s decision not to seek a second term at the K Club appears to leave only Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam in the running, despite Sandy Lyle and Jose Maria Olazabal expressing an interest.

Woosnam, who served as Sam Torrance’s vice-captain when Europe regained the trophy at The Belfry in 2002, is believed to be the tour players’ committee’s preferred choice when they meet in Dubai on March 1 to discuss the issue.

Six-time major winner Faldo has been spoken of as a good candidate for the next contest in America in 2008 however, and the tour’s tournament committee could break with tradition and earmark captains for future matches.

The odds on that happening shortened considerably on Wednesday when committee members Thomas Bjorn and Paul McGinley admitted it was a “distinct possibility,” echoing the views of another committee member and assistant captain at Oakland Hills, Joakim Haeggman.

Bjorn even went as far to suggest he sees Woosnam, Faldo, Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie taking the role for the next four contests, but Harrington is against such advance planning.

“There are plenty of reasons why you wouldn’t want to name the next captain after 2006,” insisted the Dubliner ahead of the Carlsberg Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.

“What if he had a row with six of the players? What if the next captain suffered from ill health? If a player suffers from ill health the team is only finalised two weeks before and you can replace him.

“You name one captain at a time.”

Harrington is not on the 15-man committee however and Bjorn indicated it was more a decision of when, rather than who gets the job.

Ireland’s hopes of a home captain have been dashed, but Bjorn admits an Irish vice-captain or assistant is a real possibility.

“It is up to the captain but it would be a smart move.”

Des Smyth, Eamonn Darcy and Christy O’Connor Jnr would be the favourites for the role, Harrington said: “I think they epitomise what a European Tour professional is.”

Whoever is chosen in a fortnight’s time, McGinley feels the European team will have a distinct advantage over their American counterparts.

“I was playing with Mark O’Meara last week and he was saying how fortunate we are that the players choose, that the captain is announced by his peers,” added the Dubliner, still jaded by his 18-hour flight from America after competing at Pebble Beach.

“Immediately we’re off to a head-start because it’s not a political decision. In America it is a USGA decision.”

THE Padraig Harrington Golf Shows, held last month at City West Hotel, Dublin, raised in excess of €220,000 for charities in Ireland and worldwide.

All proceeds are being distributed through the Padraig Harrington Charitable Foundation, including the sum of €50,000, which was raised in aid of the Tsunami Disaster Appeal through the European Tour International Relief Golf Fund.

The shows, sponsored by Kartel and O2, represented the first initiative by the Padraig Harrington Charitable Foundation, which Ireland’s leading golfer established in order to generate funds for various worthy charitable causes.

Other charities to benefit are: 3 T’s Foundation, Bubble Gum Club, Children’s Medical and Research Foundation CROSS, Faustina Lente Foundation, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Meningitis Research Foundation, St John of God Hospital Reserve Foundation, St Michael’s House, Tabor House Trust, Variety Club of Ireland.