Faldo outlines a major new role for Harrington

RYDER CUP 2008:TIMES CHANGE, and Pádraig Harrington - as the world number three and the only player in the European team room with a major title - will be asked by Nick Faldo, Europe's captain, to accept a bigger role in this, his fifth Ryder Cup appearance, when the trophy is defended at Valhalla in Kentucky from September 19th to 21st.

No Monty. No Darren. The team room will be a different place this time, but Faldo isn't concerned that the absence of big characters - physically and metaphorically - will affect his team. "Pádraig's a three-time major winner, with two (majors) in a row. He has a very valuable status now in the team, a new status that we can play on. The Americans don't have any major winners right now and Pádraig's going to have to carry that mantle as senior (player), along with Lee (Westwood) and Sergio (Garcia)."

Faldo added: "We've got enough guys who can carry the atmosphere in the team room more than comfortably. Looking at the characters that we've got on our team. We've got Pádraig, who I think has moved onto a new level. We've got Sergio, who brings great passion . . . many of the guys will be contributing in their own way. I feel that new roles will be coming into this Ryder Cup.

"I think that Lee Westwood will probably take a new role on, very much like I had, looking after some of the rookie players . . . you know, for me, the important thing is that they are riding a wave. My first role will be probably be to bring the guys back down to earth and we start from zero, start from the bottom line and we work forward.

"I know every player in the team is passionate, more than passionate, about the Ryder Cup and I've seen how much commitment they have given this year. The number one goal is to go and win."

Harrington (with four previous Ryder Cup appearances), Westwood (five) and Garcia (four) will be the most experienced players on a European team that, this time, features four rookies: Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson.

Miguel Angel Jimenez (two), Robert Karlsson (one), Henrik Stenson (one), Paul Casey (two) and Ian Poulter (one) complete the team.

In fact, even before he won the US PGA at Oakland Hills last month, competing the second leg of what is being termed the "Paddy Slam" (he will attempt to maintain the sequence at the US Masters next April), Harrington acknowledged his role for this Ryder Cup would change in Valhalla.

Of his changing role within the European locker room, Harrington observed: "I am becoming one of the elder statesmen and certainly the more experienced with major wins and things like that. I have always felt the type of player if someone wanted advice, I'd be there to help. Even in school, I'd be captain of (football) teams but, for some reason, with the Ryder Cup I've felt there are other people who get more out of it being in that position.

"I am quite happy that I can perform to my level regardless of my position in the hierarchical system, whereas Monty clearly performs better by being a player captain. He clearly likes to be out front leading and doing his thing. I am the kind of person if you say you are playing number one or number 10 or number seven I'd feel I would go out and put in the exact same performance . . . I think that's my attitude.

"But I will certainly have to step up to the bat at some stage. Maybe take over that position."

Faldo's decision not to award a wild card to the likes of Clarke or Montgomerie means Harrington has no choice but to take on a bigger role for this Ryder Cup. His time has come.

Harrington, it would seem, is one of the players - along with Westwood and Garcia - in whom Faldo is going to put faith to influence younger members of this year's team and to ensure the camaraderie that has prevailed in recent Ryder Cups will continue.

For his part, Faldo - who has decided to stick with just one vice-captain, Jose Maria Olazabal - intends to take a very hands-on approach with his players. Of his decision to have Olazabal alone as his deputy, Faldo remarked: "We can bounce things off each other from all our years of experience."

He also cited the experience he gained from captaining the Britain and Ireland team at the Seve Trophy last year as being "invaluable".

When he appointed Olazabal as a vice-captain, Faldo also nominated Paul McGinley to serve in the same capacity. McGinley, however, initially accepted the role only to decline it subsequently so he could attempt to qualify as a player for the team. The Dubliner failed on that count, but there was a widespread belief he would be invited back to take a vice-captain's role. Faldo yesterday ruled that out.