Harrington 'lucky to make Ryder Cup team'
Monday, 30 August 2010 12:29
RTÉ golf commentator Greg Allen believes that Padraig Harrington was lucky to receive one of Colin Montgomerie's three wildcard picks for the Ryder Cup.
The three-time major champion was announced as one of the wildcard picks on Sunday evening along with England's Luke Donald and Johnnie Walker Championship winner Edoardo Molinari.
'I think Padraig knows that he is fortunate when you look at the fact that Paul Casey, a former world matchplay champion and runner-up in the event this year, and Justin Rose, a serious contender to be Player of the Year in the US, are not in the team,' Allen told Darren Frehill on Morning Ireland.
'Harrington has not won a tournament in two years. To a great degree he has won this nomination because of his stature in the game. Sam Torrance referred to him as the Tiger Woods of Europe and clearly Colin Montgomerie regards him as such as well.
'It is very important for Harrington that Montgomerie is the captain this year and that they have partnered each other very successfully twice in previous Ryder Cups. Harrington's relationship with Montgomerie, and the fact that Monty regards him so highly, has been key to his selection.'
Speaking about the selection of Edoardo Molinari Allen continued, 'There was a 30 minute delay in the press conference and I think it was not just the fact that Molinari won, it was the way he won, that changed a great deal in relation to how Montgomerie regards Molinari.
'How can you leave out a player that, under that type of pressure, birdies the last three holes? He deserves his place in the team.'
World number nine Paul Casey and Justin Rose, world number 23 and a two-time winner on the US tour this season, are the two notable absentees on the European team.
'Paul Casey and Justin Rose took a gamble (by playing in the US this wek). Casey will feel very aggrieved. To think that a player in the world's top 10 is not good enough to play in a 12 man European Ryder Cup team. I think he will feel very, very disappointed,' said Allen.
