Philip Reid talks to Padraig Harrington about Paul McGinley's Ryder Cup hopes

Is there such a thing as a normal week when a major is on the line? Not really, not when compared with a regular tournament week. In the days running up to a major, there's never enough time for practice, on the range or the putting green or the course itself; or to fulfil media commitments, with everyone wanting to pick your brain. There's never enough time to, simply, rest.

For Padraig Harrington, it is more abnormal than usual this week. In the days before a major, one of his regular sparring partners would be Paul McGinley. Together, they'd practise, working out a course's nuances, playing one shot against another. An iron or a wood off the tee? Fly the bunker on the elbow? Or play strategically short of it? How about a bump and run here? This time McGinley is six time zones away.

The Dubliner decided to withdraw from the US PGA so he could stay behind to offer whatever comfort and support he could to Darren Clarke, the funeral of whose wife, Heather, takes place tomorrow. McGinley was the only player to take such a course of action but, as far as Harrington is concerned, it was a no-brainer for his friend, even if it makes his task of securing a place on the Ryder Cup team more difficult.

"There was no decision (for Paul to make)," said Harrington, adding: "For a decision, you have to sit down and think about it. It wasn't even close to a decision . . . Paul's in a different boat to us, with Ali, their lives are intertwined (with the Clarkes). Things like this make you realise it really is only a game of golf and there's a lot more things outside of it."

So, will the absence of McGinley this week hinder his prospects of making Europe's Ryder Cup team for The K Club next month? Currently, McGinley has a cushion of €138,207 over Paul Broadhurst, the nearest player to him on the European Ryder Cup points list, and of €210,073 over Johan Edfors. Both are playing here.

"You know, if I was a betting man, I'd be sure Paul will make it. Obviously, he is in a bit more precarious a position than me. But, in saying that, he has two weeks (the Bridgestone Invitational and the BMW International) and only needs to play well one of those weeks. And, even if he doesn't, he'd still need circumstances to go against him (not to make the team)," observed Harrington.

Nobody knows McGinley's worth in a contest like the Ryder Cup as much as Harrington. He remarked: "Paul would give up three wins I'd say in a year to be on the Ryder Cup team . . . A lot of his own upbringing involved team sports, and a lot of his outlet away from golf has to do with teams, whether it be Celtic or West Ham or the Dubs. It's all focused around teams. He loves team sport and, for him, it is a much bigger deal (to be part of the Ryder Cup) than it is for a traditional golfer."

With McGinley occupying 10th and last place in the European team at the present, Harrington, despite believing his fellow-Dubliner would make the team, conceded: "It may cost him yet (not being in Medinah) . . . the one thing you don't want to be left with in any shape or form is looking for a pick.

"If I was Paul, I'd be thinking of playing good golf for the next two weeks and not to be worrying about whether it is good or bad not to be here, or whether I'm going to get picked or not. Just go out and play good golf and let that look after itself.

"Paul made the team the last time (in 2004) by pushing. A lot of us get motivation by being a little bit on the edge, and I think what Paul has found harder is that he (started the season) so far in front. I think Paul would have found it easier if he had been chasing rather than being chased."