Harrington offers Ryder Cup captains’ compromise
That was the opinion of Pádraig Harrington last night, as he kept close watch on the battle to skipper the host team at The K-Club next year.
And he believes an Irishman should have a management role.
The position for '06 will be filled on the eve of the Dubai Classic in the first week of March with it almost certainly resting between Welshman Woosnam and England's Faldo.
"I have no say in who gets the job, that's up to the Tournament Committee, but clearly it's between Woosie and Faldo," says Harrington.
"I know it's not voted on or decided. I've been told by people on the inside they have not made a decision. My own opinion and I thought it was logical and I'm surprised it's not regarded as logical pick Woosie this time and Faldo in the States.
"Faldo has had so much success in the States, he's a commentator over there and so has a higher profile than ever.
"Either of them could do the job at The K-Club it's not that they can't do the job in the States it's just logical to give it to Faldo in the States. It's between the two of them so I'm surprised there's any need for further thinking on the issue."
His views on the role that any one of three Irishmen, Des Smyth, Christy O'Connor Jnr and Eamonn Darcy, could play at The K-Club are equally clear cut.
"The captaincy is not going to happen so if we got a vice-captaincy, it would be brilliant," he said.
"It's up to the captain to pick the vice-captain. There should be an Irish vice-captain. It would go down well from the public point of view.
"Of course, the captain has got to pick the right guy for him but there has to be an Irish context. They usually have two vice-captains and two lieutenants. One of the vice-captains in an official capacity, not somebody who's just there for the ride, should be Irish."
He stressed the contributions the Irish trio had made to the success of the European Tour over the years.
"Des, Christy and Eamonn epitomise what European Tour players are. They've been out on tour for more than 25 years. They've given their all to the tour. They've made the European Tour. They've won tournaments, they've represented Europe with distinction in the Ryder Cup. They'd make ideal vice-captaincy material."
Harrington is nearing the end of a nine-week break from competitive action. He leaves for Malaysia on Saturday with Ronan Flood, who will continue as his caddy for the next year at least, to prepare for his season opener in the Malaysian Open, beginning in Kuala Lumpur next Thursday.
This week, Harrington launched the annual 3TS All-Ireland Golf Tournament. Now in its third year, this tournament was first launched in 2003 by Irish charity 3TS (Turning the Tide of Suicide), to raise awareness and funding for suicide prevention in Ireland.
The funds raised from the 2005 tournament will go towards a new 3TS project a national survey of Irish families affected by suicide.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
