Padraig Harrington sends scary Ryder Cup message to Group USA

The Europeans have revenge on their minds, particularly contemplating how the People trounced them in report style on the 2021 Ryder Cup.

The U.S., with its youngest workforce ever, received 19-to-9, marking the biggest margin of victory in fashionable Ryder Cup historical past. By fashionable, we imply since 1979, when gamers from all of continental Europe had been allowed to play within the Ryder Cup for the primary time. Earlier than that, solely these from the British Isles may compete.

Irishman Padraig Harrington is aware of all about that landslide victory, contemplating he captained the European aspect in 2021.

So virtually two years later, whereas talking to the media forward of this week’s Horizon Irish Open, Harrington despatched a startling message to the People in regards to the workforce the Europeans will roll out in Rome.

“I believe Europe could be very robust this 12 months. I believe we’re again,” Harrington stated. “I imagine we’re again to the Eighties, the place our prime gamers are literally the perfect gamers on the earth. So I believe the workforce could be very robust. I believe they’re very a lot in type.”

Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Photographs

From 1985 to 1989, the Europeans dominated.

They received in 1985 and 1987 and retained the cup in 1989 after each side tied at The Belfry in England. Their victory in 1987 marked Europe’s first victory on American soil, which was at Jack’s place—Muirfield Village in Ohio.

Throughout that span, Spaniard Seve Ballesteros, Englishman Nick Faldo, and German Bernhard Langer had been considered the three finest gamers on the earth. Others resembling Sam Torrance, Sandy Lyle, and Ian Woosnam helped Europe overpower these competitions too.

However almost 4 many years later, comparable sentiments might be stated about Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Viktor Hovland, who will lead the European cost in Italy later this month.

“I believe we simply caught it on our turndown, their upturn,” Harrington stated of the 2021 Ryder Cup, which marked Hovland’s debut within the competitors.

“That one additional 12 months of COVID, our workforce went from peaking to barely off and by no means may come again. I stated in quite a few interviews, that many of those gamers are going to go on to play their finest golf going ahead, and so they have. You take a look at Tommy Fleetwood’s taking part in, you take a look at Matt [Fitzpatrick] received a significant, you take a look at Tyrrell Hatton taking part in nice, Viktor Hovland.”

Certainly, Fleetwood and Hatton have had masterful years, and Fitzpatrick received the 2022 U.S. Open by a stroke over Will Zalatoris.

McIlroy and Rahm clearly have six mixed majors.

Photograph by Jason Allen/ISI Photographs/Getty Photographs

After which there may be Hovland, the most well liked participant on the planet after his performances within the FedEx Cup playoffs.

“Europe has gotten so much stronger in these final two years,” Harrington added. “As for the U.S. — I don’t need to say that they’re weakening in any form or type, however actually there’s a lot of gamers that had been at their peak at that second.”

In an attention-grabbing accident, Harrington made these remarks at The Ok Membership, the location of the 2006 Ryder Cup.

The Europeans dominated the People that week, 18.5-to-9.5, which marked a 3rd straight victory for Europe. The 2004 Ryder Cup, held at Oakland Hills in Michigan, had that very same ultimate rating.

Harrington remembers these instances vividly, and he feels that Europe can get again there with the younger and gifted gamers that they’ve.

And since he made these feedback on hallowed floor for the Europeans, maybe his prophecy will show true, which can spell hassle for the purple, white, and blue for years to come back.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Make sure you try @_PlayingThrough too.