Padraig Harrington has made Colin Montgomerie’s Ryder Cup wildcard decision just that little bit harder by declaring he’d be “devastated” if he missed out on spot.
The three-time Major champion has just five weeks to make up ground in the points race, after a missed cut at the Open Championship left him in the “very perilous position” of 17th in the table.
But the race for Celtic Manor is so tight, Harrington could rocket up to sixth should he win the Irish Open this weekend.
“I’ve had more top tens in the last year than I’ve ever had in my career so my form has been solid,” said the 38-year-old.
“Going on a guideline that most people use I’ve actually had my best year.”
Nine players qualify automatically at the end of next month and then captain Colin Montgomerie will add three more wild cards.
Unbelievably, five players in the world’s current top 25 – Paul Casey, Edoardo Molinari, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Harrington – are in need of a wildcard as things stand.
Rose has won twice in the US recently, Casey and Stenson were joint third at The Open and Molinari lifted the Scottish Open three weeks ago - and won the World Cup with his brother Francesco last November.
Harrington’s last victory was the US PGA two years ago.
“I was asked the other day if I got selected would I actually pull out,” Harrington stated.
“The inference was ‘would you pull out because you’re not playing well?’
“I haven’t won recently and that’s certainly below my expectations and everybody else’s expectations, but my form has actually been solid enough.
“I just have to wait and let it happen. I do try to be very disciplined in doing my own thing and not be influenced by outside factors - but clearly that one got to me.”
New vice-captain Darren Clarke admits he can’t imagine Harrington will miss out. “Personally I can’t envisage that situation, but I’m not the captain!” he said.
“We all know how good a player Padraig is - it would be very difficult to see Padraig not being on that team in Wales.
“It would be good to see him play really well and qualify and give Monty the extra choice of another pick.
“I think we would all like to see him qualify and we hope he does.”
