Padraig’s rub of the green

IRELAND’S greening of the Ryder Cup matches at Celtic Manor in October deepened in hue yesterday not only with Padraig Harrington’s inclusion as one of Colin Montgomerie’s wild card picks but also the call-up for the 29 year-old Italian Edoardo Molinari.

Seven Irishmen will have crucial roles to play in the attempt to wrest the trophy back after the defeat at Valhalla in 1998. Harrington joins Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell as playing members of the side, Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke will be there as vice-captains with Ronan Flood and Colin Byrne on hand as caddies for Harrington and Edoardo Molinari. Even though Byrne is one of the most experienced bagmen in the business, he has never operated at a Ryder Cup before whereas Flood has been at Padraig’s side for each of the last three matches.

Montgomerie was on a hiding to nothing when it came to announcing his wild cards. In opting for Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari, he was omitting Paul Casey, ranked 9th in the world, and as many spots again ahead of the Irishman, and Justin Rose, a two-time winner in the United States this year. The Italian left him with little option after the magnificent manner in which he won the Johnnie Walker at Gleneagles, but, no matter what he says, it must have been a toss-up between the remaining quartet for the last two spots.