Sky Sports Channel Logo

Golf News

News

  • News
  • Leaderboard
  • Features
  • Competitions
  • Schedule
  • Rankings
  • Video
  • Pundits
  • On Sky
  • Sky Bet

Padraig Harrington praises Thomas Bjorn's Ryder Cup backroom team

By Sky Sports Golf

Last Updated: 04/10/18 5:02pm

Padraig Harrington praised Thomas Bjorn's backroom team for the role they played in Europe's Ryder Cup victory

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sky Sports

Padraig Harrington praised Thomas Bjorn's backroom team for the role they played in Europe's Ryder Cup victory
Padraig Harrington praised Thomas Bjorn's backroom team for the role they played in Europe's Ryder Cup victory

Padraig Harrington believes he was part of the 'perfect' backroom team for Europe in their Ryder Cup victory at Le Golf National.

How Europe won the Ryder Cup

Report, highlights and reaction from Europe's win at Le Golf National.

Harrington was one of Thomas Bjorn's vice-captains in Paris, where Europe claimed a sixth consecutive home success and regained the trophy in emphatic fashion with a 17.5-10.5 victory.

The Irishman - a three-time Ryder Cup vice-captain - is one of the candidates who could skipper in the European side at Whistling Straits in 2020, although Harrington feels he would not need to alter much behind the scenes.

Europe claimed a convincing victory at Le Golf National
Europe claimed a convincing victory at Le Golf National

"I would love to be Ryder Cup captain, but I wouldn't change anything from what I saw last week," Harrington told Sky Sports. "There's a really good template there.

"The backroom team was perfect and I thought the vice-captains had a great mix. There was enough emotion in the vice-captains and then there was Robert Karlsson crunching the numbers.

Rory McIlroy is among the players who has backed Harrington to captain Team Europe in 2020
Rory McIlroy is among the players who has backed Harrington to captain Team Europe in 2020

"There was also great balance in the players. We had fourball players and foursomes players and we didn't have to hide anybody."

Bjorn elected to leave compatriot Thorbjorn Olesen out of both Saturday sessions as Europe opened up a 10-6 lead, only for the Dane to return and thrash Jordan Spieth 5&4 in the singles.

Also See:

  • Rory backs Padraig for 2020
  • Europe's 2020 contenders
  • How Europe won Ryder Cup
  • Padraig eyes 2020 captaincy
Olesen was one of seven European players to win their singles match on Sunday
Olesen was one of seven European players to win their singles match on Sunday

"I think it [leaving out Bjorn] was the hardest decision he [Bjorn] had to make, when you take the emotion into it," Harrington added. "He [Olesen] was a fellow countryman, he played the best in practice and it was a tough decision.

"It's difficult getting 12 players out in the first day, that's the most complicated one, then not playing a player who wants to play is the one that has to be managed after that."

Trending

  • 1
    Transfer Centre LIVE! Ancelotti: Kane a Spurs player, we respect that
  • 2
    Real Madrid to release Hazard
  • 3
    Papers: Newcastle 'in pole position' to sign Tierney
  • 4
    Guardiola: Now we can talk treble | Ten Hag refuses to criticise De Gea
  • 5
    Verstappen takes Spanish GP pole as Norris third in wild Qualifying
  • 6
    Mercedes to review Hamilton-Russell crash: 'It shouldn’t happen'
  • 7
    Liverpool transfers: Fulham's Tete on Reds' radar
  • 8
    Man Utd fan arrested for wearing shirt mocking Hillsborough tragedy
  • 9
    Man Utd make approach for Chelsea's Mount
  • 10
    Man Utd transfers: Casemiro trusts club to have good summer window
  • Video
  • Latest News
  • Home
  • Sports
    • Football
    • F1
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Rugby League
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • NFL
    • Tennis
    • Racing
    • Darts
    • NBA
    • Netball
    • MMA
    • More Sports
  • Scores
  • Video
  • TV
  • Sky Bet
  • Shop
  • More
    • Transfer Centre
    • Live on Sky
    • Get Sky Sports
    • TV Shows
    • TV Guide
    • Sky Go
    • Now TV
    • Kick It Out
    • Black Lives Matter
    • British South Asians in Football
    • Sky Zero
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Contact Us
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Sky Sports
    • Get Sky Sports
    • Sky Sports Apps
    • Sportinglife.com
    • TEAMtalk.com
    • Football365.com
  • Partners
    • Sky Bet
    • Fantasy Football
    • Super 6
    • Planet Rugby
    • Golf365
    • Planet F1
    • Cricket365
  • Sky Sports Channels
    • Sky Sports Main Event
    • Sky Sports Premier League
    • Sky Sports Football
    • Sky Sports Cricket
    • Sky Sports Golf
    • Sky Sports Racing
    • Sky Sports F1
    • Sky Sports Action
    • Sky Sports Arena
    • Sky Sports News
    • Sky Sports Mix
  • More Sky Sites
    • Sky.com
    • Sky News
    • Sky Group
    • Sky For Businesses
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • NOW
    • Sky Communal TV
    • Bigger Picture
    • Store Locator
    • Advertise With Us
    • Sky TV Accessories
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Privacy Options
  • Accessibility Information
  • Contact Us

Sky Sports Channel Logo ©2023 Sky UK