Harrington desperate to be in Ryder squad

Padraig Harrington has admitted he would be 'gutted absolutely' and 'devastated' if he was not part of Europe's team at the Ryder Cup in October.

With only five weeks left in the points race the three-time major champion admits he is in a 'very perilous' position down at 17th place.

Yet things are so tight that if Harrington wins this week's 3 Irish Open at Killarney - and he considers his form good enough to do it - he could move all the way up to sixth.

Nine players qualify automatically at the end of next month and then captain Colin Montgomerie adds three wild cards.

Newly-appointed vice-captain Darren Clarke states that he cannot envisage Harrington missing out, but competition is fiercer than ever before.

An amazing five players in the world's current top 25 - Paul Casey (9), Edoardo Molinari (17), Justin Rose (18), Harrington (19) and Henrik Stenson (23) - are in need of a wild card as things stand.

Rose has won twice in the States recently, Casey and Stenson were joint third at The Open and Molinari lifted the Scottish Open three weeks ago - and won the World Cup with his brother Francesco, seventh in the standings, last November.

Harrington's last victory was the US PGA two years ago, but he was at great pains, with Clarke listening, to point out that in the past 12 months he has had no fewer than 14 top 10 finishes.

Harrington's chances of a wild card would certainly be improved if Montgomerie goes along with what Clarke clearly thinks.

Asked if he could see a scenario where his former team-mate was left out, the Northern Irishman replied: 'Personally I can't envisage that situation. But I'm not the captain!

'We all know how hood a player Padraig is. It would be very difficult to see Padraig not being on that team in Wales. It would be good to see him play really well and qualify and give Monty the extra choice of another pick. I think we would all like to see him qualify and we hope he does.'

Clarke might make it himself yet and has already said that if that happens he would play and Montgomerie would have to find another assistant.

Runner-up to Molinari at Loch Lomond, the 41-year-old is 21st on the table, but could move to ninth by winning on Sunday.
Clarke also stands 102nd in the world at present, but is still waiting to hear if there is a place for him in the US PGA.