Harrington facing crucial week as Ryder selection looms

Sergio Garcia’s good form in the US this weekend means Pádraig Harrington will need a FedEx Cup play-off victory at The Barclays next Sunday if he is to realise his ambition of a Ryder Cup wild card next month at Medinah.

Harrington’s hopes were dealt a blow at the PGA Championship last week, first by European captain Jose Maria Olazabal ahead of the year’s final major and then by his own tie for 18th at Kiawah Island.

That left Harrington admitting he needed something “exceptional” at Bethpage this week in order to convince Olazabal he was worth one of the two spots the Spaniard will announce a week today.