Harrington Picks Garcia, Poulter to Round out the Europeans
You know it’s Ryder Cup season when we learn who’s on the rosters for each team. Steve Stricker revealed his captain’s picks last week for Team USA. Team Europe captain Padraig Harrington announced his final three picks on Sunday: Shane Lowry, Sergio Garcia, and Ian Poulter.
There are always a handful of names that deserve consideration, but I love the picks that Harrington made, mainly Garcia and Poulter. No disrespect to Shane Lowry, but he’s a Ryder Cup rookie this year, and doesn’t have the history the other two do.
More from Pro Golf Now
- Golf Rumors: LIV set to sign Masters Champion in stunning deal
- Fantasy Golf: Grant Thornton Invitational DFS Player Selections
- Brutal return leaves Will Zalatoris looking towards 2024
- Stars You Know at World Champions Cup Starts Thursday at Concession
- Fantasy Golf: An Early Look at the 2024 Masters Tournament
The history being winning, winning, and more winning. I knew that Poulter’s record was great, I didn’t know that Garcia’s was almost just as good.
They’ve won 3 Ryder Cups together, for starters, but breaking down their records in past Ryder Cups, you quickly understand why they were picked.
Poulter will be making his 7th Ryder Cup appearance. He has a record of 14-6-2. That’s a 68.2 win percentage, netting 15 points in his career.
While Sergio will play in his 10th Ryder Cup, with a 22-12-7 record. A 62.2 win percentage with 25.5 points earned.
Yes, Ian Poulter didn’t have the best of years in 2021, but how in the world do you argue with his play in the Ryder Cup? Spoiler alert: you can’t. He’s been the most clutch player in European Ryder Cup history. There’s no way he can be left watching it at home.
Next. 2021 Tour Championship: Winners and Losers at East Lake. dark
As for Sergio, he quietly had a really decent year. A 14th place finish in the FedEx Cup standings, despite being cut 9 times. He also had a win at the Sanderson Farms Championship. He can still get it done, and Padraig Harrington will be leaning on him in a few weeks.
It was impossible for Harrington not to pick these two guys. A combined 36-18-9 is way, way too good to ignore. There’s no reason to believe that they won’t show up.
Europe will be going for their second straight Ryder Cup, dominating the Americans at Le Golf National 17.5-10.5 in 2018. The Europeans always get up for the Ryder Cup, and if they win again, you better believe that Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia will have their hands all over the cup.