EUROPE’S Ryder Cup hierarchy for the next four years will be confirmed today when Thomas Bjorn names Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington as his latest vice-captains.
The only assistant Bjorn has appointed so far is Robert Karlsson of Sweden, a European Money List winner ten years ago and Ryder Cup player in 2008.
Karlsson, 48, is highly respected but lacks the golfing gravitas that three-time Major champion Harrington and former world No 1 Westwood will bring to the team.
Bjorn needed to add some ‘oomph’ after US captain Jim Furyk announced three big name assistants in Davis Love III, Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods.
And if there was any doubt that Harrington and Westwood would be the next two European captains, it will surely be dispelled when Bjorn confirms them as part of his backroom staff in a press conference at Wentworth.
Harrington, 46, has already been vice-captain at the last two Ryder Cups and made the team six times.
He made an early pitch for the top job a month ago, declaring: “It would be good timing for me, 2020, in terms of where I will be in my career.”
Harrington is a perfect fit for a Ryder Cup in the States.
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He has been a full-time member of the PGA Tour for ten years, after adding the 2008 USPGA title to two Open wins.
Westwood, 45, has hinted he is prepared to wait until the competition hits Rome in 2022.
He has finished on the winning side seven times in ten outings.
And, despite a miserable week when Europe lost at Hazeltine two years ago, his record makes him a Ryder Cup great.
His decision to settle for a supporting role is no great surprise. Westwood has been winding down his playing commitments since finishing outside the world’s top 50 at the end of last year for the first time since 2002.
When he tees off in this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, it will be only his second start since February 11.
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