Did Padraig Harrington really disappoint Monty in the Ryder Cup?
After the Ryder Cup, Padraig tried to show everyone that Colin Montgomerie wasn’t mistaken to pick him as his last wild card pick. Prior to the start of the Ryder Cup, Harrington’s pick was very controversial. Monty received a lot of criticism for picking Padraig over Paul Casey.
In one interview, Montgomerie had even said that ask or criticize me about Padraig Harrington on October 4th after the Ryder Cup is over. A very smart response from the captain since then the media or public could complain had Harrington not played well. Overall, Padraig didn’t really shine but didn’t really disappoint the captain either.
Things turned out good for Harrington and Monty when the Europeans were brilliantly triumphant at Celtic Manor. On Sunday, Monty said that Harrington had more than justified his scandalous decision of having Harrington in the team. Monty said that Harrington was amazing on and off course.
However, this was before the singles match. Where he won accompanied with Ross Fisher, Harrington lost the individuals round.
Padraig hadn’t won any major tournament since the 2008 PGA Championship and wasn’t in the best form but was still chosen. People had hoped Justin Rose or Paul Casey would be picked for the team but the spot was given to Harrington.
In the Ryder Cup, Harrington proved all the criticism wrong when he had a winning partnership with English rookie, Ross Fisher. However, in his game with Luke Donald, Harrington didn’t do that well. Fisher and Harrington won both their fourballs matches and foursomes. This act two folded the total points contribution of the Irishman in the Ryder Cups in 2008 and 2010 where he had halved just two of his nine matches.
Monty did agree that Padraig was in fact under pressure. When giving an interview Monty said when Harrington lost his first match because of pressure. He specifically said that it was because of the media. The media had given a hard time just because he was in the team.
"Hopefully he'll realize now why he was selected. There was method. There was method in everything I've done here, from the moment I've been selected as Ryder Cup captain, there's been method in what I've been doing here”, said Colin.
Along with the captain, Harrington’s partner Ross Fisher really acknowledged Harrington’s presence in this Ryder Cup. He said it had definitely been a plus point having a player like Harrington by his side. Monty complimented their couple saying that Ross played well because he had someone like Padraig with him. Recalling his own time, Montgomerie said that he had played well with Bernhard Langer and Nick Faldo because he was playing with them and not alone.
Even though Harrington lost his singles match from Zach Johnson, his team effort was remarkable. Agreed he didn’t have individual joy like Tiger Woods, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Phil Mickelson.
Mickelson has had the worst record of losses in Ryder history but the tables turned this year as he beat Peter Hanson 4 and 2 in the singles match.
Woods finally showed the World that he still has his game when he defeated Francesco Molinari 4 and 3.
Jimenez, who has played in four Ryder cups and hasn’t won a singles match yet, also won this year.
Many people thought that Harrington’s individual performance would really be the judge of Monty’s ‘wise’ decision. Harrington lost to Johnson 3 and 2 and even though he was behind in the whole game, the Irishman did put up a good fight.
Harrington became a professional golfer in 1995 and joined the European tour in 1996. He has gotten the European Tour Golfer of the year award in 2007 and 2008. The Dubliner has won the Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 and also the PGA Championship in 2008. After the Ryder Cup, Harrington is now competing in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship starting today in Scotland. Hopefully, things are better for Harrington in this tournament and he can overcome his ‘mishaps’ in the Ryder Cup.
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