Europe finally look like Ryder Cup contenders
‘There has been some really good play at that top end’: Europe finally look like Ryder Cup contenders with Padraig Harrington impressed with the progress made
- Padraig Harrington is pleased with Europe’s progress ahead of the Ryder Cup
- Although the US remain favourites, the gap has started to close a little
- Europe carries three of the current five top-ranked players in the world
At a time when sweeping changes have brought havoc to the golfing landscape, Padraig Harrington is noticing subtle shifts in a more wholesome skirmish between old adversaries in his sport.
While the merger of tours and the shenanigans that preceded it have long been the dominant talking point of a frenzied time, it has been too easy to lose sight of something else — a Ryder Cup will be contested in less than four months.
Within that, there has also been a gradual sharpening of the view that Europe’s status as heavy underdogs might show just a little too much disregard to recent results.
‘They are doing nicely, aren’t they?’ said Harrington, the losing captain in 2021.
‘Every week in the States we’ve got a European guy up there doing nice stuff. There has been some really good play at that top end. It is amazing the swings and roundabouts because you just have to get it on that right ebb.
Padraig Harrington believes that Europe are in a good position ahead of the Ryder Cup
‘I’d be quite positive. We’d like to fill those last two or three spots. But the top seven or eight are playing nicely.’
If there is to be a disclaimer here, it was written all over the US Open leaderboard after three rounds at Los Angeles Country Club. Heading into Sunday’s final round, the leading two, Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark, are Americans who previously sat some way from the reckoning for Zach Johnson’s US team.
A further five members of the top 10 across 54 holes are from the United States, including the world No 1 Scottie Scheffler.
But Harrington’s point is a solid one nonetheless — at the top end, Luke Donald will hold some hugely powerful cards in his 12.
In Jon Rahm he has the Masters champion, and he is supported by Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland, meaning Europe carries three of the five top-ranked players in the world. Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, is eighth in those standings.
The US, however, are favourites and have the current world No 1 in Scottie Scheffler
Europe can call upon Jon Rahm, who is supported by Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland
Justin Rose has won on the PGA Tour this year and has managed to revive his career
And inflated optimism is also found lower in the recent results of the mid-order — Justin Rose has won on the PGA Tour this year and has revived his career, while last week Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton were in the top three in Canada. Each has had a strong season so far.
Asked if there has been a momentum swing of late, Harrington added: ‘Yeah, definitely. I think the European guys are coming into play.’
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