Irish Ryder Cup veteran Des Smyth believes that Padraig Harrington is the right man to captain Europe for the 2020 Ryder Cup.
Harrington is the overwhelming favourite to lead Europe at Whistling Straits in 2020 after Lee Westwood ruled himself out of the running for the next Ryder Cup.
Westwood had previously expressed a desire to captain Europe in the US in two years time but has now said that he would wait for Rome in 2022, and put his weight behind Harrington’s 2020 bid.
The 45-year-old also told Sky Sports News that he felt three-time major winner Harrington was the "perfect candidate" and "better equipped" to lead Europe's attempt to retain the trophy won in convincing style at Le Golf National, where both he and Harrington were vice-captains.
The captain is selected by a panel comprising the previous three captains - Bjorn, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley - European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley and a member of the Tour's Players Committee.
Smyth, who represented Europe twice in the Ryder Cup as a player and twice as a vice-captain believes that Harrington is the obvious choice and with Westwood standing aside, is set for a ‘coronation’ as captain.
Speaking to 2fm's Game On, Smyth said: "It’s given him a free pass. The two obvious was between Lee [Westwood] and himself and Lee has stepped down now. I think it’s a clear coronation now.
"I think he’s had the experience along the way as a player and three times he’s been vice captain. This is the process they’ve been under taking in recent years."
Smyth believes that Harrington’s experience in the Ryder Cup as both a player and a vice-captain means that he’ll be able to cope with anything that’s thrown at him.
"Some of the previous captains came out of the blue and struggled with the job and the situation," he said. "So what they do is make them vice-captains for a few goes so they know what’s happening and how it works
"Padraig has been prepped and he’s ready and he’s the right man for the job.
"It’s obvious it’s going to be Padraig so the sooner he gets in the better for him. He won’t have a whole lot to do until next years, I think it really gets busy with one year to go, that’s when things are cranked up."
