Rationalizing The Harrington Selection At The Expense Of Paul Casey

It's fascinating to see how personal the British press is getting in rationalizing the selection of Padraig Harrington over Paul Casey for the European Ryder Cup squad. Check out Oliver Brown's over-the-top slashing of Casey.

So how could Casey possibly "hate" Americans? Their country has made him what he is: an ordinary lad from Surrey stockbroker land, made exceptional on the strength of a golf scholarship at Phoenix. Indeed, his problem in the eyes of European critics who find his personality cocky, abrasive, and who do not mourn his omission from the Ryder Cup team for a second, is that he is perhaps too American.

Now, Steve Elling tells us that Mr. Too American played in five non-Open Championship European events this year. Harrington?

Twice. Twice!

Fair enough. Of the two PGA Tour members who were picked ahead of him Sunday, Padraig Harrington, who hasn’t won a tournament in two years and hasn’t won a match in the past two Ryder Cups, played in two European Tour events in 2010. Luke Donald, ranked No. 10 in the world last week, one slot below Casey, played in four European events this year. Casey has played in five.

Brown also seems to have forgotten that Luke Donald lives in America, married an American and is a huge fan of the red, white and blue. Why no concerns about this loyalty? Oh right, he's on the team and unlike Harrington, a case can be made that he's a deserving selection.

Comments

[d.bcooper]

I don't give one whit about the likes of Casey, but is it possible Westwood will be a no go and he (Casey) will get on the team anyway?

[Hawkeye]

I think the selection process might be similar to the one four years ago, where out-of-form Westwood and Clarke were picked instead of the more in-form Thomas Björn, Ian Poulter and Carl Pettersson. The difference, I guess, is what personal assets a player can bring to the team room. Casey isn't exactly universally loved by his peers, while not too many (save for the new vice-captain) have harsh words for either Harrington or Donald.

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

I certainly stand guilty of accusing Casey of being perpetually smug but on reflection I'd take that every day over a gobbing, effing n'blinding, club-throwing, "entitled" bum everytime. I have NEVER seen Casey lose it on the course. Indeed, bad shots hardly seem to register with him. I would like to have seen him picked just for that quality alone.

I think Donald was picked over Casey and Rose because of his partnership qualities. Being a two-times winner this year, Rose too was more deserving of a place than Harrington. Had Harrington a decent RC record then, maybe. He doesn't so, other than his age and experience (at what, in losing in matches?), I just don't get the logic behind his selection. Yes, he's won three majors but the last one was two years ago. Personally, I suspect funny handshakes.(lol)

[chico]

C and C-the Harrington pick has me completely baffled too.
No doubt that means he'll get at least 4 points!

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

chico ... can't help feeling that Monty hasn't done him any favours. He's going to be under more pressure to perform than any other player in the team and, yes, that would not be for his grandfatherly role.

Hope he remembers to pack plenty of those urine-testing kits. He's gonna need them for more reasons than one!(lol)

[Buffett]

C and C, I don't know what gobbing means, but I have seen plenty of the other stuff from several players during tournaments.

[Old Tom of the Golfing Gods]

Geoff, great job calling out the Telegraph's Brown. Terrible article.

The UK press loves to slam America (not just in sports) and this was one of the worst examples.

[Tom]

Note to Steve Elling-- In past years, Casey has tended to play a few more of the ET's early season events (the Emirates swing) whereas Harrington has tended to play a few more of the ET's late-season events. Thus the difference at mid-season between Casey's and Harrington's ET appearances in 2010 is potentially meaningless.

I should add the disclaimer that past tournament appearances are not a guarantee of future appearances.

[Scott]

It's amazing the anti-U.S. crap that runs in British papers. The level of venom is shocking. Mahan has every right to say what he wants to about the Ryder Cup, and I agree with all of it. Screw the Brits if they can't take a little criticism. You're talking about a nation of sporting saddos that is desperately seeking the limelight, like Norma Desmond if she was wearing plus-fours. The Ryder Cup is their big moment on the big screen, and Mahan had the gall to flick the projector off for a second. Now Norma's very, very upset.