Olazabal Denies Harrington Feud
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There has been a growing feeling in recent weeks that Padraig Harrington’s Ryder Cup dreams are slowly slipping through his fingers.
The likeable Irishman finds himself up against Ian Poulter, Nicolas Colsaerts, and the Spanish duo of Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Gonzalo Fdez-Castano for the two Captain’s wildcard picks.
But he may be set to pay the price for a nine year feud with Captain Jose Maria Olazabal come the announcements on Monday. The bad blood between the pair goes back to their singles match in the 2003 Seve Trophy. During the match Olazabal wanted to repair what he thought were old pitch marks, but Harrington thought they were blemishes and so called for a referee.
Before the official arrived the Spaniard had gone ahead and repaired them which led Harrington to make a sarcastic remark and Olazabal to take great offence. The pair didn’t share a word for the rest of the match and seemingly are still on bad terms.
When asked about their falling out, Olazabal said: “If people believe that that is interfering with my judgement well, first of all they’re completely wrong, and if it was the case I would be failing as a Captain.”
He instead directed the room to Harrington’s recent record. “If you look at the list he’s well back there isn’t he. Sergio needed a win, or to make the top three last week to make the team, he’s not any different to Sergio is he? So I don’t know what it’s all about. He’s an experienced player obviously, but at the moment he’s not been able to deliver, period. Simple as that.”
The Spaniard is not wrong, Harrington is currently 27th on the European List and 19th on the World List and unlike Poulter, he doesn’t have a strong Ryder Cup record to fall back on.
In the singles he’s won three and lost two of his five matches. He’s only won two of nine foursomes encounters; while in the fourballs he’s won two and lost five. Hardly the record of an indispensable veteran.
Come Monday we’ll see who gets the nod, but expect there to be plenty of questions asked whichever way the picks go.
