Ryder Cup 2010: Padraig Harrington disappoints the team in practice session
A day after being praised by his captain and fellow players, Padraig Harrington struggled to live up to the expectations in the early stages of Wednesday's practice round for the Ryder Cup.
Harrington was Colin Montgomerie's most talked about wild card pick and because of him Monty earned the most criticism. The reason behind the raised voices was the down sloped performance of the Dubliner in last two years. The
player has been without a victory in two seasons, moreover, he was losing form which was quite apparent. The last achievements in Harrington’s bag were from Valhalla in 2008 and the K Club in 2006.
The three time major winner did finish the Vivendi Cup in Paris on Sunday with a round of 64 which was quite splendid indeed. Moreover, to motivate him Montgomerie said, after Tuesday's opening practice round, that so far Harrington
was playing the best amongst his team. However, the fans who fought the rain to watch Harrington at Celtic Manor on Wednesday morning were left with an opposite impression as the Dubliner pulled his opening drive deep into the gallery left of the fairway.
If it would have been the actual match, then a bogey without any hassle would have been posted on the scorecard.
His second tee shot headed to the left of the target, conceding only into a fairway bunker, and his third would have found the water hazard to the left of the green on the 189-yard par three if it had not been for the wet conditions.
The mood among the European group was blue owing to Harrington’s game. It was quiet evident from Peter Hanson, Ross Fisher and Lee Westwood’s expression. To lighten up the heat in the group, Westwood's caddie Billy Foster jokingly
said, 'No cameras please' on the second tee when the Dubliner was about to tee off.
Although spectators are allowed to bring cameras onto the course during the practice days except for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but despite that most of the people took full advantage of the situation.
Turns out, second practice session became havoc for the European team, partly due to rain and the rest due to Harrington’s bad form.
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