Ryder Cup: Padraig Harrington Makes Easy Choice in Sergio Garcia

When Padraig Harrington made his captain’s pick for the 2021 Ryder Cup competition, the question was whether he would go with the experienced group that included Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia or if he would go younger.

Harrington chose to go with the experience, selecting Poulter, Garcia and Shane Lowry with his three picks. And it will likely be the prudent decision.

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If there are two players that Americans have grown to hate at the biennial competition, it’s Garcia and Poulter. They have been the villains as the European side has claimed four of the last five and seven of the last night competitions.

Garcia started his Ryder Cup career as a teenager and is still playing. He first played in the competition in 1999 at the age of 19. This time around, Garcia will be making his 10th Ryder Cup appearance (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018).

And it’s not just the fact that Garcia has played in many Ryder Cups. It’s also that he has had significant success.

In fact, no player has ever won more points in Ryder Cup competition than Garcia. Read that again. No player ever. Not Nicklaus, Palmer, Seve, Faldo or anyone else has as many Ryder Cup points as Sergio Garcia.

His overall Ryder Cup record is 22-12-7. In fourballs, he is 8-4-3, while he has a 10-4-3 record in the foursomes portion of the event.

Garcia has held his own in Sunday singles. He has won four, lost four and tied one during his Ryder Cup career.

Next. Ryder Cup: Padraig Harrington Wise to Choose Ian Poulter. dark

And he, along with Poulter, have been the players who Americans love to hate the most. Both are passionate and animated during the competition. They are the kind of players who you love to have on your side but hate to see on the other team.

Harrington was wise to use one of his choices on Garcia, who had a nice season on the PGA Tour in 2020-21. He figures to add to his point total at this year’s Ryder Cup.

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