Padraig Harrington has warned prospective members of the European Ryder Cup team there’ll be”no excuses” for not playing in the BMW PGA Championship next year.
Qualifying to the European group begins this week and ends at Wentworth next September before Harrington takes his side to defend the Ryder Cup contrary to the Team USA of Steve Stricker.
Harrington is thrilled to see a stellar field teeing it up in the West Course this week, headlined by Rory McIlroy, and he is intent on seeing more of the same a year from now when positions on his team for Wisconsin are likely to be decided.
“This is a enormous part of why it is beginning this week and it’s ending at the BMW PGA Championship,” said Harrington, soon after hammering Robert Karlsson because his primary assistant captain. “That will be the flagship event in Europe along with also the players develop and take it.
“That is our biggest European event, it is the one you want to be there. You’re sure to find a strong field, which isn’t just important this season, but it’s going to be important come this time a year ago that we possess the players playing with with the occasion.
“If you can find places still to be determined, every player will probably be going up against other great players that week and there won’t be any explanations. You ca turn around and say’well, I do not need to return to the event; it is not large enough’.
“This ultimately will result in no explanations following year, as everyone will probably be here who wants to get on the group. And it is a nice golf course now, it is now. They’ve made the improvements and everyone loves it and it’s a true good golf course and it will create fine play, which is exactly the sort of golf course we’ll be analyzing the players around.”
Harrington also emphasized the significance of having rookies on the team, with the likes of Open winner Shane Lowry and Matt Wallace one of those likely to make their own Ryder Cup debuts at Wisconsin.
“We want rookies,” Harrington added. “How do you receive the atmosphere and buzz on the team? You want guys there simply thrilled to be excited and there, and the older men possess the capability manage and to assist a young player. That’s the beauty of The Ryder Cup, to have rookies on the team.
“Clearly you wouldn’t want to go in there using 12 rookies and if nine rookies qualify, I will be picking three experienced guys. So we won’t be moving in with 12 rookies, because the rookies have made it for Europe over the 29, however, you desire a mixture.
“These are the guys that come out and they glow. I am hoping for a wonderful balance on the team, and everything I get, the nine guys who qualify will probably deserve to be there, plus it’s my job to choose three guys to rip them out, after which it’s myself, Robert and another vice-captains’ tasks for the most out of these when we are there during the week”

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