Pádraig Harrington to use assistant role to assess future Ryder Cup ambitions

Pádraig Harrington has admitted he will use his vice-captaincy position at the Ryder Cup partly as a trial run to assess whether he can lead Europe at some time in the future.

Harrington has been named as one of five vice-captains for this month's meeting with the USA at Gleneagles. The three-times major winner would ordinarily be considered an automatic captaincy choice but a host of big names have their eye on the position over the next decade. Someone will miss out.

“I’d love to be a Ryder Cup captain in the future,” Harrington said. “Being a vice- captain gets me behind the scenes and will show if I’m capable of doing the job.

“Managing 12 players is completely different to managing yourself individually, which is quite selfish. Instead you are managing 12 guys, 12 emotions. I’m going to look behind the scenes, see if I like it, see if I am capable of it and whether other people think I am capable of doing the job.”

Strong assessment

Harrington warned against the routinely strong assessment that Europe should see off Tom Watson’s team.

“The US are loving the fact that Europe is supposedly the favourite and they are playing that up,” the Dubliner added. “But that’s on paper. We have to go out there and play real matches.

"I'm worried that the US are going to be better this year, team-wise, than ever. Without Tiger Woods there, that leaves Phil Mickelson in the team room as the undisputed number one. A captain/player type in the team room and the players will listen to him. These are good, solid players and I'd be wary of them coming out with a point to prove. They are enjoying being the underdog."

Paul McGinley, the European captain and Harrington’s compatriot, believes five assistants are necessary so that groups on the course as well as rested players can be monitored at the same time. Harrington conceded his attitude towards his new role had undergone a swift alteration.

“I’m delighted because I wasn’t close to making the team so it will be great to be a part of it,” he said. “It’s interesting, as well, because I have watched vice-captains over the years and kind of thought they were on a jolly. Now that I am a vice-captain I realise there is a bit more work involved. I’m there to support Paul and we will see how we get on.”

Pressed on his “jolly” remark, Harrington said with a laugh to the BBC: “It’s a nice number, isn’t it? I think I thought some of the captains were on a jolly.

“I have to be careful as a player myself not to let that get in the way, to be out there saying: ‘Hey, I’m as good as you, I should be out here’ sort of stuff. My job is to report to Paul, tell him what is happening out there, not being judgmental at all. Just supporting.

“I’m not the guy who puts the arm around the player and says: ‘Keep it going’ or whatever. That’s Paul’s job. My job is to put my arm around him and tell Paul to keep it going.” Guardian Service