Quote Originally Posted by the other bob wilson View Post
I was pleased for McIlroy who did well to get a win from a position where he must have been as low as he’s ever been in his career - he’s still one of our best players and has to be a central part in any recovery. Great that Lee Westwood, a real team man, but with an appalling singles record, won at that format in what must be his last game in the competition surely and you’ve got to admire Poulter as well for going to the well one more time when playing poorly and beating a very good opponent in Finau.

I don’t watch enough tournament golf these days to be sure of this, but it seems to me that Harrington just drew the short straw really in that his time came when we were as weak as we’ve been in a long time and we were not good enough to take advantage of the perennial American weakness of having too many in their side who are just not equipped mentally to prosper in team golf - if this strong, younger group coming through are better in that department of the game, then Europe faces a tricky decade or two.

Only one Europe captain has struck me as being poor since we became so much better at this format in the eighties and that is the utterly self absorbed Nick Faldo whose much stronger team than this one also got trashed - Harrington had virtually no chance with the hand he was dealt.
McIroy is a talented golfer, no doubt about it.
You don't win multiple majors being average.

I do think though that he has tended to not play the percentage shot when he should and this, in my view, has cost him titles and as for playing in a team, this approach is not the way forward.

His emotional interview did surprise me a bit I have to say.
Maybe he only knows one way to play and that frustrates him.

Pleased for Westwood especially, as you say, he may have played his last Ryder Cup.
World number one on occasions and a very talented golfer who just couldn't put four great rounds together often enough.

Faldo always struck me that it was all about him, doubt he did much "legwork" as captain.
I did love his masters wins though.

As for Harrington, see my reply to Elwood Blues.