Padraig Harrington has warned potential members of the European Ryder Cup group there’ll be”no excuses” for not playing at the BMW PGA Championship next year.
Qualifying for the team begins this week and finishes at Wentworth next September before Harrington takes his side to defend the Ryder Cup against Steve Stricker’s Team USA.
Harrington is thrilled to find a stellar field teeing it up at the West Course this week, headlined by Rory McIlroy, and he’s intent on seeing more of the same a year from today when positions on his team for Wisconsin are likely to still be picked.
“This is a massive part of why it’s beginning this week and it’s ending in the BMW PGA Championship,” said Harrington, shortly after unveiling Robert Karlsson as his primary assistant captain. “Here is the flagship event in Europe along with the players develop and take it.
“That is our largest European event, it’s the one which that you are interested in being there. This year you are certain to receive a discipline, which isn’t only important, but it’s going to be significant come this time a year ago that we possess the very top players playing with the previous occasion.
“If there are places still to be decided, each player will probably be going up against other very good players who week and there will not be any excuses. You can’t sort of turnaround and say’well, I don’t want to return to this event; it’s not enough’.
“This ultimately will result in no excuses following year, as everyone will soon be here who would like to have on the group. And it is a golf course now, it truly is now. They have made the advancements and everybody loves it and it’s a true solid golf program and it will create fine drama, which is precisely the sort of golf course we’ll be testing the players around.”
Harrington also emphasized the value of having rookies on the group, with the likes of Matt Wallace and Open winner Shane Lowry among those likely to make their Ryder Cup debuts.
“We want rookies,” Harrington added. “how can you get the buzz and atmosphere on the group? You need guys there just thrilled to be eager and there, and the older guys get the ability to assist and handle a young participant. That’s the beauty of this Ryder Cup, to possess rookies on the staff.
“Certainly you wouldn’t want to go in there using 12 rookies and should two rookies qualify, I’ll be picking three seasoned men. We won’t be going in using 12 rookies, because the rookies have really made it however you desire a mixture.
“These are the guys that come out and they all shine. I am hoping to get a wonderful balance on the team, and everything I buy, the two men who qualify will probably deserve to be there, and it’s my job to pick three men to rip them out, after which it is myself, Robert and another vice-captains’ tasks to get the most from these when we are there during the week.”
About the author: Roberto Bannon
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