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Monty tabs Harrington, two others for Ryder Cup

Sun 29th, August 2010

Perthshire, Scotland (Sports Network) - European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie selected Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari to round out his team on Sunday.

They joined the nine players who automatically qualified for the European Ryder Cup team -- Lee Westwood, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Ross Fisher, Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy, Francesco Molinari and Peter Hanson.

Montgomerie also added Sergio Garcia as his fourth vice captain.

"One word describes Sergio Garcia, passion," Montgomerie said. "I've played with Sergio since 1999. I think he will bring passion not only on the course, but off it as well."

The European captain said if Westwood is unable to play because of injury, Justin Rose will take his place. Rose, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this season, was among the players left off the team.

Among the other snubs were world No. 9 Paul Casey and 2004 captain European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer, who has won four times on the Champions Tour this year, including back-to-back senior majors.

"I feel sorry for Paul Casey and for Justin Rose," Montgomerie admitted. "But we had an embarrassment of riches on this occasion, and I and our team here had to leave out world, world stars."

Harrington is a three-time major champion and has played in every Ryder Cup since his debut at Brookline in 1999. The Irishman had never been a captain's pick until this year as the world No. 18 narrowly missed an automatic spot.

He is 7-11-4 in his five previous Ryder Cups, but only owns a winning record in singles. He has a slew of top-10s around the world in 2010, but has yet to win.

Harrington has missed the cut in three of four majors this season as well as at The Players Championship. His only made cut in a major was at the U.S. Open, where he shared 22nd.

"Harrington has won three major championships in the last three years and he is somebody that we feel that nobody in match play golf wants to play," Montgomerie said.

Donald will be playing in his third Ryder Cup after missing the 2008 edition. The Englishman was a captain's pick by Langer in 2004 and owns a spectacular 5-1-1 record, including a 4-0 mark in foursomes.

"In Luke Donald, you have someone that can compete in foursomes and four ball golf," stated Montgomerie. "In his seven previous matches, he has lost just one game."

Donald had a spectacular summer run where he won the Madrid Masters and posted top-three finishes at BMW PGA Championship and Wales Open, which was played at the Ryder Cup venue, Celtic Manor.

The world No. 10 also has enjoyed a fine season on the PGA Tour. He finished second at the Northern Trust Open, shared ninth at the Match Play Championship, tied for third at the Heritage and took solo third at the Canadian Open.

Edoardo Molinari joined his brother Francesco on the team. They are the third set of brothers to play on the same European Ryder Cup team.

The last two brothers to play together were Bernard and Geoffrey Hunt in 1963. Both Molinaris are Ryder Cup rookies.

Edoardo birdied the last three holes Sunday for his second European Tour victory, winning the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles by a single stroke over Brett Rumford. He also won this year's Scottish Open and has four other top-four finishes on the European Tour in 2010.

"What could one say about his performance today at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles?" said Montgomerie of Edoardo. "I think in my time as a player on the European Tour, and I've been a member for 24 years, I don't think I've seen a finish of that quality under such pressure by anyone, ever. All credit goes to him for having to come here, having to win, and doing so."