‘My Ego Is Attached to Golf’ – Padraig Harrington Reveals His Legacy Is at Stake at Ryder Cup

After a long wait, the Ryder Cup 2021 is finally here, players ready to represent their teams at Whistling Straits. A biennial event, the tournament is a chance for everyone to play for something more than just themselves. Team Europe captain Padraig Harrington is someone who feels the same, stating that this Ryder Cup will impact his legacy.

Harrington has been around for a long time and brings along experience and expertise to the table. His first Ryder Cup was back in 1999, the 50-year-old has also been the vice-captain three times. On January 8, 2019, he was made the captain of Team Europe for Ryder Cup 2021.

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What does Padraig Harrington have to say about the upcoming Ryder Cup 2021?

While talking to the media, Harrington explained how it is to win a tournament, and what it means to bring home the Ryder Cup. “If I win another tournament, it doesn’t make much difference,” he said. “It’s even questionable whether winning another Major would. The Ryder Cup impacts my legacy”.

According to the 50-year-old, his ego has attached itself to golf, and the Ryder Cup will surely impact the same. To Harrington, being a losing captain will affect who he is – something he believes he will have to deal with. “I want to make sure everybody has a great experience where these are the best days of their lives. I could go through all those cliches. Ultimately I want to win. I can control being a good captain without necessarily controlling the result”. 

Towards the end, Harrington also spoke about Nick Faldo’s Ryder Cup captaincy in 2008, speaking of how Faldo thought everyone played as he did. “He just focused on getting his game ready. At that Ryder Cup, he assumed that’s how we all thought,” Harrington added, admitting that he cannot make a mistake like that.

For Harrington, this job comes with a lot of pressure and is not something he has taken on because it was his turn or his right. “There is a lot of pressure on this for me because it’s a one and done. I don’t have a few goes. A successful team is a successful captain. A losing team is a failed captain. It is unfair but that’s the way it is”. 

The Ryder Cup will begin on Friday, September 24.

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