Harrington putting team first

Padraig Harrington’s terrible recent Ryder Cup record was the centre of attention after he was controversially selected as a wild card by European captain Colin Montgomerie.

But the three-time major winner will be happy for that record to continue as long as Europe regain the trophy at Celtic Manor this weekend.

Harrington is without a tournament win for more than two years and failed to win a single game at Valhalla or the K Club, collecting just one point from a possible nine.

He admits he feels he has to defend his position on the team after he was selected ahead of Paul Casey and Justin Rose, while Montgomerie has urged people to judge Harrington on Monday when the result – weather permitting – will be known.

Montgomerie therefore clearly expects Harrington to deliver some vital points for his side, but Harrington made a point of emphasising how results are not the only measure of a player’s success.

“I would gladly have the same results as I personally had in 2006 (half a point from five games) for a winning week,” Harrington said. “That’s all that counts, is whether the team wins.

“A person can influence his team-mates so much in the back room that it affects the result. Individual scores can be nice, but I know I won my singles match in 1999 (before Europe lost at Brookline) and was on the greatest high ever, for about two minutes. And then it was as disappointed as I’d ever been.

“I certainly realised in that moment it is all about the team. If we can get a win this week, everybody will have an effect on it, regardless of the points they get and when they do it.

“The classic is Seve (Ballesteros) in his last Ryder Cup against Tom Lehman. He drew out that match so long, he still lost, but the momentum that he gave to the rest of his team, because of the way he fought that out, was tremendous. So you can’t always judge it just on pure results.”

With that in mind, Harrington is also making a conscious effort to offer more help to his team-mates, particularly the six rookies, rather than waiting to be asked.

“I’m definitely trying to do as much as I can,” Harrington added. “I’m trying to talk to the rookies and give them as much advice as I can and give them as much confidence as I can.

“I’m definitely much more proactive about what I’m doing maybe than I would have been in past years. I want to make sure I give as much back as I can this week, both off the golf course and on the golf course.

“I think being a leader on the golf course, that really requires your golf clubs to do the talking. That’s where Monty was obviously fantastic at going head-to-head and controlling the situation.

“Like I said the other day, his win against Scott Hoch (in 2002) was worth easily more than a point to the team. I was on the range watching and everybody got such a buzz on the European team about how he started that match and carried on.

“It would be nice to play like that on the golf course, but it’s definitely more about tournament play. I’m definitely making an effort off the golf course and the team room just to give a little bit more.”

Harrington’s form on the course was effusively praised by Montgomerie on Tuesday, with the Dubliner making two eagles and seeing a 40ft putt lip out for another.

It was not quite the same story this morning, when he struggled badly over the opening few holes, but Harrington added: “Today I started poorly and played well after that.

“It doesn’t really count for much. Friday morning onwards you’ve got to start good and keep going.”

Harrington partnered Ross Fisher today, losing narrowly to Lee Westwood and Peter Hanson over 10 holes, but would not be drawn on who he will be alongside come Friday.

“We have a good idea at this stage who we are going to be paired up with,” he added. “I certainly can say I have an idea within three or four people, is that enough?

“The best way to do it is pair me with 11 people. I’ll agree with 10 of them and the 11th I’ll deny it and that’s probably the guy I’ll play with.”