Monty’s Ryder Cup wild card boost for Harrington

PÁDRAIG Harrington’s hopes of winning a Ryder Cup wild card got a significant boost from European captain Colin Montgomerie last night as rival skipper Corey Pavin said his United States team were underdogs for the October showdown at Celtic Manor.

Three-time major champion Harrington is currently lying outside the top nine automatic qualification places in the European standings with the deadline falling on August 29 at the end of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Harrington, who will try to gain an automatic spot at this week’s US PGA Championship, has already decided to skip Gleneagles, preferring to play in the United States that week at The Barclays, where he is also committed to a teaching clinic for Special Olympics.