Padraig Harrington says that this week's breaking news about the PGA-LIV merger means that the rebels should be welcome back to Ryder. Cup fold
Former Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington called on the European Tour to allow Sergio Garcia and the other LIV rebels to play for the European team at the fall tournament in Rome to give Luke Donald the best chance to choose his strong side.< /p>
Harrington , who sits on the captain selection committee for Europe, also said the agreement announced earlier this week by the PGA and DP world tours and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) “reversed the outlook” for the future captain, arguing that more there was no reason why LIV rebels such as Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Garcia should not lead the European team in the future.
The Irishman dismissed concerns about any potential negative impact on the team's dynamics, arguing that “a little tension can help.”
Harrington backed the decision to strip Stenson of the captaincy 12 months ago after the Swede agreed to move to the Saudi-backed department. But speaking at Mercedes-Benz Patrons' Day at Royal Liverpool Golf Club ahead of the 151st Open next month, the 51-year-old said this week's announcement “changed everything.”
“I I think the LIV players will be back for the Ryder Cup,” he said. “Luke has to choose his best team at the end of the day. Absolutely. Wherever Luke can assemble his best team, he must do so. I know the rules have to change, but the rules have changed before. The whole idea of this new [agreement] is, listen, let's not hurt or hurt anyone in this situation. I guess everyone is given a sort of blank slate.”
Harrington says Luke Donald should be able to pick his strongest side this September
Harrington added: “[LIV players] definitely deserve attention. They are good players. I don't know if they will be in the top 12 at this stage. But to assume that there are no players in LIV capable of playing in the Ryder Cup would be foolish. A couple of them become… like they were on stage with my team [in 2021], which, you know, maybe that was their last hurrah. But certainly not all.”
World No. 2 John Rahm recently lamented not being able to play alongside compatriot and European all-time top scorer Sergio Garcia at the fall Ryder Cup in Rome. The pair were one of the few pluses after a 19-9 lopsided loss to Team USA at Whistling Straits in 2021 when Harrington was captain.
The return of Europe's all-time leading scorer pisses off another famous player, Rory McIlroy, though the Northern Irishman dodged the question when asked in Canada this week, calling the choice of LIV players a “moot point” as they withdrew from the European tour. .
Donald will be given six captaincy picks in partnership with six players who have already qualified in the world or European rankings, but these picks must have a European Tour card to be eligible.
Harrington reiterated that the rules ” subject to change,” and said he did not see a problem with the team's dynamics. “You know, in a week you can get through this,” said the Irishman, who is known to have gotten into a long-running feud with Garcia himself. “Me and Sergio hugged at the Ryder Cup. When you play, you get rid of these things. You are working through it. You will be surprised when you get into the [environment] team, a little tension really helps. You need a drive.
Should LIV players participate in the Ryder Cup?
“All teams have it. Look at the England football team. Most players are kicking the hell out of each other in football matches two weeks before. Everything goes awry at the Ryder Cup to build a better team.
“So I don’t see a problem with tension. For example, you will not necessarily be their partner. But you might have a situation where two LIV players are selected for a team and they are so desperate to score five points each to prove the value of LIV that it can be good.”
On the Future Captaincy Theme page , Harrington said he would have no problem getting Stenson or any other LIV player back in the frame. Ryder Cup stalwarts like Westwood, Poulter and Garcia were supposed to get a chance to captain until they defected to the LIV.
“Absolutely, I think it will reopen in the future. I think it opens it all up. The next captain is not determined in any form. But it looks like we have a good list of captains ahead of us.”
Harrington captained the European team for two years. back when the US won in Wisconsin. Photo: Getty Images/Andrew Redington
On the broader topic of the PGA/PIF deal, Harrington admitted he received some rebuff for a series of tweets posted earlier this week in which he said he could understand why the deal happened and arguing that it's not morally easy to be better. when “my own country is selling military technology to Saudi Arabia.”
The 51-year-old did not apologize, suggesting that golf and golfers were easy targets.
“I won't , in any form or form, subject anyone to moral condemnation for what they think or believe,” Harrington said. “Saudi Arabia has terrible human rights. And we would all like to see that change. But we don't have a magic wand to do it. And hopefully it will change over time. Let's hope this inclusion helps change it over time.
“But I'm not going to judge anyone who doesn't break the law. The Saudi Arabs have every right in the free market to come in and try to build a business in golf, as they did in Premier League football, and many other places if they so desire. That's what freedom is.
“But remember, I think there are four Irish golfers who said no to [LIV].”
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