Harrington up for Ryder Cup return if play holds

GULLANE, Scotland — Padraig Harrington isn’t ruling out the concept of enjoying in one other Ryder Cup, even at age 51, relying on how he fares in his two weeks towards the world’s greatest gamers.

That hope was emboldened Friday within the Scottish Open after a 4-under 66 at The Renaissance Membership, leaving him two pictures off the early tempo set by Tyrrell Hatton and Tom Kim.

Harrington mentioned European captain Luke Donald known as him after he gained two weeks in the past on the PGA Tour Champions to say he was watching. However the Irishman would not imagine his efficiency on the 50-and-older circuit must be thought of.

His measure is the Scottish Open and The Open Championship subsequent week at Royal Liverpool.

“I’ve bought these two occasions. I am going to see on the finish of these,” Harrington mentioned. “I am going to discuss to Luke, see the place I stand. If essential, I’ll change my schedule. I am meant to play a couple of Champions tour occasions in the course of the summer time. However I’ll change and are available again and play European tour occasions if I’ve a real probability.”

Harrington was captain two years in the past at Whistling Straits, the place a younger American crew that performed to its potential handed an growing older European crew its worst loss ever within the Ryder Cup.

Raymond Floyd in 1993 and Jay Haas in 2004 are the one gamers over 50 to play in a Ryder Cup, and it is a lengthy shot for Harrington to even be thought of. However he hasn’t dominated it out.

Harrington completed fourth in Abu Dhabi on the European tour firstly of the yr. He has made the reduce in all 5 PGA Tour occasions he has performed, most not too long ago a tie for twenty seventh within the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Nation Membership.

“It is how I play in Scotland and the way I play The Open that can decide every thing,” he mentioned. “It does put me beneath fairly a little bit of stress coming in right here as a result of I do know if I do not carry out these two weeks, it is the tip of that.

“If I haven’t got two good weeks, I am not going again (to Europe). I’ll play the Champions tour,” he mentioned. “Two common weeks, I do not know the place that leaves me. If I’ve two good weeks, that clearly says one thing.”

Europe has misplaced expertise from so many gamers going to LIV Golf — Sergio Garcia, Thomas Pieters, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey — a few of them giving up European tour membership and thus being ineligible.

Harrington would not see that alone as creating a chance for him. He likes the best way prime Europeans are enjoying and the way youthful gamers are beginning to emerge.

“I do not assume they’re scrambling to wish me on the crew,” he mentioned.

However he says he’s bodily able to competing towards the very best — his final win exterior the PGA Tour Champions was the Portugal Masters in 2016 — so long as his head is in the correct place. That is why he skipped a senior main this week at Firestone Nation Membership in Ohio.

“I nonetheless assume I am a severe participant. I see some good issues,” he mentioned. “Truthfully, if I by no means hit the ball any higher than I did the final two days, then I would be comfortable. I would not be altering something from the final two days. All meaning is you get the correct break right here or there, gap the correct putt, I would be proper there in rivalry any week.”

For now, it is about attending to Sunday in Scotland. Harrington at all times mentioned his aim was to get to the again 9 on Sunday with an opportunity and see the place it takes him.

“So let’s have a look at what the subsequent 27 holes brings,” he mentioned.