McGinley’s ultimatum to Ryder hopeful Harrington

Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has thrown down the gauntlet to Pádraig Harrington to produce the form that will make a pick on Europe’s team to face the United States at Gleneagles this September.

Harrington, 42, is being touted as a potential team vice-captain for the showdown as Europe bids for a hat-trick of successive victories. Qualification for the team seems a long shot with the three-time major winner down to 181st in the world rankings and out of many big tournaments such as this week’s WGC-Cadillac Championships in which big points can be amassed to climb up the qualifying tables.

Yet on the day McGinley unveiled fellow Irishman Des Smyth and Scotland’s Sam Torrance as his first two assistants for the 40th edition of golf’s greatest team event, the European skipper said he would not name his remaining vice-captains until after his team was finalised and his three wild cards were picked on September 2.