Casey could partner Harrington

Paul Casey’s American fiancee had some news for him when he returned to the team hotel last night – he could be the man to partner Open and PGA champion Padraig Harrington when the Ryder Cup starts on Friday.

“I honestly have no clue, but Jocelyn told me there’s a rumour going around. I think the odds were 10-1,” said Casey, one of captain Nick Faldo’s two wild cards.

“I would love to play with Padraig and I think it would be a good pairing, but I would play with any of the guys.

“I know guys have been sort of batting around ideas, but any time you can play with a double major champion from one year that would be very, very nice.”

Told that Harrington had said in the build-up to the match that he quite likes having someone a little erratic alongside him in foursomes – the opening session on Friday – Casey just smiled and said: “I wouldn’t disagree that I am slightly erratic.

“He is an exceptional putter, so I think that would be a good combination.

“No way have I replicated him, but I haven’t missed a cut in a major for a couple of years.

“For me that’s certainly a step forward. Not a breakthrough, but a step forward.

“Watching him go on and win two this year has been fantastic. I’ve got some years on him, which is about the only thing that I’ve got an advantage on!”

Casey and team-mates Henrik Stenson and Graeme McDowell were on duty for press and television interviews at 6.30am local time today.

They were due in on Tuesday, but spent nearly seven hours practising and the schedule had to be rearranged.

“I am absolute rubbish as an early riser,” commented Casey. “I am on west coast time. It’s 4am for me.”

Stenson practised with Harrington yesterday and they were also fourball partners on the second day at The K Club two years ago, losing two and one to Zach Johnson and Scott Verplank.

Asked about playing with the Dubliner again the Swede commented: “I don’t think it would bring extra pressure – not for me, I am not the one with three majors!”

Casey and Stenson were still left guessing about their chances of partnering Harrington when the second day practice pairings were revealed by Faldo.

Harrington was with fellow Irishman McDowell, while Casey was with rookie Oliver Wilson and Stenson with his compatriot Robert Karlsson.

Faldo appeared to have done things on national lines because Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez were together and so were Justin Rose and Ian Poulter.

The only exception was Lee Westwood, who was with Dane Soren Hansen.