Monty's shock tactics

Harrington call-up is extremely harsh on Rose, says McFarlane

Last updated: 8th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Monty's shock tactics

McFarlane: stunned by choice

What Colin's saying is 'how can you not have a three-time major champion in your team?' Well, you don't have him in your team if he's not playing well enough.

Ross McFarlane
Quotes of the week

EUROPEAN RYDER CUP TEAM
L Westwood (Eng)
R McIlroy (NIr)
M Kaymer (Ger)
G McDowell (NIr)
I Poulter (Eng)
R Fisher (Eng)
F Molinari (Ita)
MA Jimenez (Spa)
P Hanson (Swe)
P Harrington (Ire)
L Donald (Eng)
E Molinari (Ita)

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Padraig Harrington's selection for Europe's Ryder Cup team "almost beggars belief", according to Sky Sports expert Ross McFarlane.

Harrington got the nod ahead of Justin Rose and Paul Casey for one of the three wildcards handed out by captain Colin Montgomerie ahead of the event at Celtic Manor, with the other two going to Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari.

Although Harrington has three major titles to his name, he has failed to win a game in each of the last two Ryder Cups he has played in at Valhalla and the K Club in 2008 and 2006 respectively.

A stunned McFarlane told Sky Sports News: "It beggars belief almost. That is a shock to me. It's the one name really that most people were casting aside.

"The form is not good enough, he hasn't committed himself to the European Tour at all, his schedule has been US-based, he hasn't supported the European Tour enough.

"Yet the team - Colin and his three vice-captains - have come up with Padraig Harrington who has a record that doesn't make great reading; he's won seven, lost 11 and halved three.

"What he's saying is 'how can you not have a three-time major champion in your team?' Well, you don't have him in your team if he's not playing well enough.

"Maybe Harrington can come round and prove what a good pick it was and show us just how good a player he is and come out and win four or five points for the European side and then go 'yah, boo, sucks' to all of us who ever said he would never be on the team."

Shock

Montgomerie opted not to hand a wildcard to Paul Casey or Justin Rose, who picked up three points out of four on his debut, partnering Ian Poulter to two victories on the way.

"To put Harrington in above Justin Rose is quite a shock," said McFarlane. "He won twice in three weeks last month in the US and nearly won three weeks in a row.

"His form has been brilliant. He's an in-form player - that's what you've got to look at. For me, you are taking somebody (Harrington) just because they won a few things two or three years ago.

"Poulter will be thinking 'who are they going to be putting me with? Luke Donald, Martin Kaymer, Miguel Angel Jimenez?' I'm not really sure.

"The good thing about Ian Poulter and the rest of the team is that they are all there on merit. They've played well to get on that team and they are all ready and raring for action.

"Ian Poulter will say he will play with anybody but when you are going to put a team together that is going to gel and almost have an intimidation factor, it's strange.

"Luke Donald has done everything that he needed to do bar qualify of his own right. He was asked to come over by Colin and won at the 2010 golf course, so he turned around and said this is why you pick me even if I don't play enough events in Europe or qualify by right.

"Molinari just turned around and said 'if I win this week (at the Johnnie Walker Championship) are you going to pick me' and Colin probably said 'yes', and that's exactly what he did."

Comments (50)

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Bernard J says...

Just because he won a few things two or three years ago. That has to be quote of the year. They are called majors Ross McFarlane played in one of them 5 times in his career. He missed the cut in four and finished T55 in the other. It is no wonder he has forgotten what they are called. Like it or not, they are how golfers are defined. Those few things Padraig won add up to more than the rest of the team together. That is probably the saddest and most bitter articles I have ever read and you are quite rightly getting slated for it. Just to point out one of the inaccuracies in it, if Harringtons form is that poor how come he is ahead of Casey & Rose on the world points list and only just behind Casey on the European list with Rose a full 60 places further back. And yes, 60 places just in case you think its a typo. But never let some old list get in the way of a complete unfair and innacurate rant at one of Europes best golfers of his generation. Its only the official qualification list.

Posted 15:48 1st September 2010

Clive Gl says...

I dont agree with Ross McFarlanes comments. I believe Harrington deserves his place on the team. He has played consistent this year bar the majors and not winning a tournament. He has been in contention on a number of occassions. I think McFarlane should have chosen his words more carefully. Rose and Casey are both based in the U.S for some time and they haven''t committed themselves to many tournaments on the European tour. Harrington has a fantastic short game and will bring alot of experince to the European team. I hope Sky Sports have more informed pundits commentating on the Ryder Cup. Perhaps a past Major Winner, unlike Mr McFarlane who only made the cut once in his 5 major appearances as a professional....

Posted 15:20 1st September 2010

Paul Eaton says...

I think we''re missing the point here, too much importance is given to a 3 day match play tornament that was originally concieved as a bit of fun between two big golfing enthusiasts, can''t belive the discussions/arguments that have been generated. Would go along entirely with the team pick, how do we the sporting public, really know how the personalities will interact in the team. The European captain and his team have picked the wildcards, everyone get over it, lets look forward to some great matchplay golf.

Posted 10:31 1st September 2010

Paul Maguire says...

Oh get over it! I am getting tired of reading Sky pundits who are so anti Harrington - Harringtons biggest problem is that he is not English - take off your Nationalistic specs and look at the ovewrall picture Paul Casey was asked specifically to play the Czech Open - he didnt - nobody else but himself to blame Justin Rose won twice - so what? he should have won 3 in a row - why the mental explosion in that middle week? - would make me query his likelyhood of a repeat if the heat comes on in Wales As it happens I think Monty could have picked Mickey mouse for the last place - I think we will savage USA on this side of the water - but woe betide us in 2 years time when Dustin Johnson, Nick Watney etc when they have a bit more experience....

Posted 08:23 1st September 2010

David O''hanlon says...

Ask Bernard Langer what won Europe the Ryder Cup In Oakline.Pretty sure he''d say Padraig Harrington and Monty beating Woods and Mickelson.If memory serves me right Harrington was only one of 2 players to win a singles point in Brookline in probably the most Hostile Ryder Cup of all time.And if you look at Harringtons record the last 18 months he''s actually playing good golf bar the fact he keeps having one horror hole every round.Only counts as one in the Ryder cup.And just one to Sky instead of getting your so called experts to give their opinions who never came close to a Ryder cup and who are working for you guys because they could''nt hack it on the tour maybe get a Sam Torrance or a Seve or Langer and ask them who''d they pick im pretty sure they would agree with Bjorn , Clarke,McGinley and Monty .Oh yeah did Rob Lee ever even play in a major or that Mc whatever is name is fella.

Posted 21:02 31st August 2010

Joe Remedios says...

You can go on forever as to who should or should not be picked and Monty will only be right if Europe wins the match. It all depends on the day which makes the match so exciting. No player is guaranteed to win any game.

Posted 18:14 31st August 2010

Keith Clarke says...

Prior to sunday and the captains three picks, everyone would agree that colin montgomerie has done an excellent job so far. He has used all his ryder cup experience to surround himself wth the best possible vice captains. It appears he has left no stone unturned in his preparation for the 2010 ryder cup. Putting the remaining contenders for automatic places out together at gleneagles was a small but clever example. I feel that if he was allowedi to pick all twelve players, then i am sure he would have included casey and rose at the expense of two others. All the players know the selection process inside out and and base their schedule in a ryder cup year on achieving enough points to earn an automatic spot. If they have not, then it is because they have not performed as well as expected in the number of qualifying tournments that they play in. Finally, on the subject of padraig harrington, he has a mental toughness on a golf course that very few golfers possess. With a lot of rookies on the team padraig will make the perfect partner taking all the pressure and allowing them to play their game.

Posted 00:03 31st August 2010

James H says...

Ross - imo you have made a fool of yourself on live television. I think there are strong arguments for the inclusion of Casey and Rose as both are top class players and have played well this year. But you need to get some of your facts correct before you go on live tv. Harrington has 7 top 10''s in 18 tournaments played in 2010 (& 15 top 10''s in last 13 months), which is more than both Rose (2 wins but only 5 top 10 tens in 20 tournaments) and Casey (pretty sure its 6 Top 10''s in 18 tournaments & no wins) so this answers the form argument. Secondly how can you argue that Harrington should not get picked because he''s not supported the European Tour. If you exclude the co-sanctioned US based tournaments Rose has only played 3 European Tour Events this year (Irish Open, British Open & PGA in Wentworth) which is exactly the same as Harrington while Casey has 6 & Donald 5. There is no doubt that Harrington has been a far greater supporter of The European Tour in his career than Rose or Donald ever have. Sure hasn''t he won the Order of Merit and finished 2nd on at least two occasions. There is some justification in criticsm of Padraig''s poor recent Ryder Cup form but despite no wins in last 2 Ryder Cups he still has a 40% win percentage which matches Tiger Woods or Mickelson. Sure Phil Mickelson has only won 2 matches in the last 3 Ryder Cups but we would much prefer to face an American team without him. And to belittle the achievement of three major wins is well offside. No European player won a major for c 10 years and not only did Padraig Harrington break that hoodo but he went on to win three majors which is more then European greats like Olly, Lyle, Woosie, Jacklin and Langer did. I believe you owe the greatest European player of the existing generation of golfers an apology!

Posted 22:44 30th August 2010

Kev Westney says...

A great reason to select Harrington for the Ryder Cup W7 H3 L11

Posted 21:26 30th August 2010

Ian Ross says...

Skysports coverage this weekend has been ridiculously biased. Rob Lee should be ashamed of himeself for the way he was talking about harrington during coverage of the barclays, thankfully Wayne Riley was alot more knowledgable and fair. Why he holds such a grudge against such a lolved golfer beggars belief. Harrington has more top tens this year than casey, rose,poulter or even martin Kaymer. He''s also one of the most loved and respected golfers in the world, proof of this been the standing ovation that he got at the masters when receiving a media awards ( tiger woods himself gave him a standing ovation) No one else got such an ovation at this award ceremony which included player of the year..etc. This of course is not a defining merit for ryder cup selection... top tens, three majors, stature.. they''ll deal with that. Rob Lee should learn to be a better presenter

Posted 19:08 30th August 2010

Barry Ryan says...

to the people saying harrington shouldnt of been picked because of his form. answer this. do u think tiger woods form been good enough? absolutly not. will corey pavin pick woods as a wildcard? u bet he will. reason why? because its tiger woods. his name alone will intimidate players. just like harringtons 3 majors. harrington is the closest thing to a tiger woods we have. also remember form is temporary,class is permanent.

Posted 18:14 30th August 2010

John Mccann says...

I was disappointed with some of the commentary on Sky Sports this weekend. Take a look at the final world points list .This list could arguably be used as a good indicator of form over the "entire" qualifying period. As it happens Monty chose the next three non-qualified players on that list. Edorado Molinari ( 5 ) , Donald ( 6 ) and Harrington ( 8 ) with Poulter ( 7 ) being qualified via the European points list. The positions on this list would not have changed even if ranking points from the Barclay''s had been included. It was obviously a close call between some of the candidates for the picks .Unquestionably Edorado Molinari got his pick on merit. As Donald and Harrington did not qualify automatically they can consider themselves fortunate to have gotten picks but the same would have applied to Rose and Casey had they gotten the nod. Both Ryder Cup points lists show that all of the "fedex four" deserved to be in the shake up at the end. They are all world class players and it is a great pity that two of them had to miss out. Less of the "shocked" and "stunned" please. It was up to the captain to define the criteria used to select his picks so let''s respect his decision and move on.

Posted 17:33 30th August 2010

John Lynch says...

Lets face it Ross Mcfarlane knows better than Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke, Paul Mcginley, Thomas Bjorn and Sergio Garcia put together LOL. Sorry to hear you are so easily shocked Ross. I presume when Rob and Ross meet Monty face to face they will stand by their comments, I think not, one look from Monty and they will be heading for a change of underwear.

Posted 17:03 30th August 2010

Kevin Flynn says...

When you look at Harringtons record in the Ryder Cup it doesnt look that great but what you have to remember is he has mostly played up front in the Pairingings and Singles, playing against the best of the Americans, he is well worth his Pick !!!

Posted 16:52 30th August 2010

Don Shirley says...

It seems to me that all these people going on about Harrington''s three majors are missing the point. Majors are stroke-play and Ryder Cup is match play - and when Padraig was winning majors two years ago his Ryder Cup performance was dismal. Also a certain T.Woods, who has won a few majors, has a lousy match-play record.

Posted 16:37 30th August 2010

Padraig O brien says...

What a surprise an English golfer giving out because his two friends didnt get the Pick. How can anyone question Montys decision he has played 5 times with Padraig in ryder Cup games including the win over the World NO 1 and World no 2. Monty knows whats required to win the Ryder cup. Get over it Ross you were never good enough to play in the Ryder Cup anyway.

Posted 15:14 30th August 2010

Patrick Conway says...

I have never heard so much rubbish in all my life. Harrington is pure class , yes he has not had the best year but he has shown fantastic for in the last few months. I find it priceless that all these Mainly english pundits are coming out and saying that harrington has not done enough in european tour to merit a place. Ian poluter 2 years ago decided to go to america for the last ranking event here and recieved a wild card from faldo . And look how well that turned out. Get off your high horse a small bit and be glad we have a captain this year that is nt make us look like a laughing stock

Posted 14:52 30th August 2010

David Harrop says...

Monty + his team were given the job of picking the Team, all these better qualified than Ross Mc. unlike Faldo it wasn`t just Monty who picked the wild cards but a group of four Ryder Cup experienced players, think its a perfect decision.

Posted 14:33 30th August 2010

Alan Wingrove says...

Lets be grateful Monty had such a dilema because it shows the strength in depth of the european team. Whoever he left out of the fed ex four he would have received criticism. I also think a lot of commentators are missing the trick here as I suspect Harrington has primarily been picked to pair up with Rory Mcilroy & I have a sneeky feeling they could turn out to be a prolific pairing for the European team.

Posted 14:20 30th August 2010

Mark Wilks says...

How can people feel sorry for Casey and Rose. Monty wouldnt have had to make this decision if they would have put their bank balances aside and played in a few Euro events. Tough luck i say. You dont support us, why should we support you! I wouldnt have picked Harrington either though. People saying he is one of the best golfers in Europe. Well actually he isnt. He has changed his swing this year and its all gone pear shaped. He was 3 years ago. We should pick Faldo going off that criteria though.

Posted 14:05 30th August 2010
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