Padraig Harrington has said he would love to be Europe’s Ryder Cup captain in the future.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Harrington said he had enjoyed the experience of being a Ryder Cup vice-captain during Europe’s win at Gleneagles, and said that he would love to take the next step and take up the role of captain.
“Oh, I’d love to do it, yeah,” Harrington said. “Me being there [as vice captain in Gleneagles] was questioning would I be suitable myself to do it, and whether players would think I’m suitable to do the job.
“I think Europe now has got to the stage that, yes, it’s picked by a five-man committee, but I think the committee will know whether they have the support of the team [and] the potential players, or not. And it’s very important for any future captain to have that support.”
Harrington joined Europe’s players in praising highly Paul McGinley for his role as captain.
“I’m sure nobody had done the preparation that he had done,” Harrington said. “You just cannot believe what work he put into it. He has pretty much given his golfing career for three years to this Ryder Cup.”
“Between Tom and Phil there was always going to be an issue, who was the boss" - Padraig Harrington
He also weighed into the controversy that has engulfed the losing USA team, saying that he was not surprised at criticism of US captain Tom Watson by Phil Mickelson.
Harrington said the US team had missed an opportunity by not allowing Mickleson to embrace fully his role as an authority and leader within the playing group.
“The biggest asset the US team could have in that team room is Phil Mickelson,” he said. “The players really look up to him. All the players look up to him. All the players would love to follow Phi Mickelson. That’s for sure.
“[Europe] have had guys, players in the team room who can lead them; [similarly], it was important that Phil Mickelson [did this].
“Especially not having Tiger there; when Tiger and Phil are in the same room, it’s hard to pick out who is the leader. Phil wants to do it, and he wants to be the man up there, inspiring them, and if Tiger is there he has to look over his shoulder and defer to Tiger at times. And Tiger is not the guy for doing it.
“So having the two guys in the room just does not work. Having just Phil there, it really was an opportunity to get Phil to take on the old Monty role.”
Harrington said there had always been a question coming into the Ryder cup over whether Mickelson and Watson could gel, and stressed the importance of the relationship between captain and senior player working.
“Between Tom and Phil there was always going to be an issue, who was the boss,” he said. “Afterwards, it showed up that it was an issue.”
