Golf - World Cup:Pádraig Harrington said Rory McIlroy has made a wise decision in choosing his friend Graeme McDowell as partner to represent Ireland in November's World Cup in Mission Hills, China.
The three-time major winner made the comment at today’s Lough Erne “Duel on the Lough” challenge between himself and McIlroy, the resort’s touring professional, to mark the official opening of the five-star Enniskillen venue.
“I think Rory is wise, as I have done for many years, to go with a friend (as his partner),” said Harrington, who had to play second fiddle to the younger man as he shot 70 compared to McIlroy’s 68 in today's head-to-head challenge.
“There is more to a World Cup than just sending out two golfers. Graeme’s a good choice, a wise choice. They’ve a great chance of winning...the fact they’re friends will give them more of a chance, just like myself and Paul (McGinley) when we won in ’97,” added Harrington.
It will be the first time the two Ulster players team up for the World Cup which will be held at the Jose-Maria Olazabal designed course for the third time. McIlroy will also be making his debut.
“Graeme’s one of my best friends on tour. It’ll be a great week for us and we will give it a good go,” said McIlroy, who will become the second youngest player to represent Ireland in a World Cup, after Ronan Rafferty in 1983 who played in Jakarta with Eamonn Darcy.
“I think our style of games will complement each other. He’s short and straight and I’m long and don’t always know where it goes . . . I think we will be really good.”
Harrington and McGinley were the successful pairing at Kiawah Island in 1997 and remains one of just two Irish wins in the competition. Harry Bradshaw and Christy O’Connor Snr were the previous winners back in 1958 when the tournament was known as the Canada Cup.
Defending champions Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson will be back to defend their title while Spain’s Sergio Garcia is also confirmed in the field.
“There are always a lot of good teams at the World Cup. I think that the Swedish team, the defending champions, will be very good,” said Garcia.
“The Americans always seem to bring a good solid team into the tournament. Australia (Robert Allenby and Stuart Appleby), of course, is going to have a good one coming in. One of the Asian teams could be solid.”
All 18 exempt nations have now been confirmed and world number five Garcia is the highest-ranked player taking part. He can now select his team-mate to compete over the Mission Hills provided that the player nominated is inside the world’s top 100.
For the third successive year Ian Poulter will represent England. He was fourth with Justin Rose in 2007 and sixth with Ross Fisher last year. Fisher will again be his partner this time.
Rory Sabbatini will fly the flag for South Africa alongside Richard Sterne, Nick Watney is confirmed as one half of the American side and Martin Kaymer spearheads the German challenge.
China qualify automatically as host nations of the World Cup, but Scotland and Wales both have to go through the qualifying event in Estonia in September.
