{"id":23060,"date":"2021-09-12T17:08:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-12T21:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23060"},"modified":"2021-09-13T11:11:46","modified_gmt":"2021-09-13T15:11:46","slug":"harrington-selects-shane-lowry-as-ryder-cup-wildcard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23060","title":{"rendered":"Harrington Selects Shane Lowry As Ryder Cup Wildcard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Lowry could have replaced Lee Westwood with a top-eight finish and began the day in a tie for seventh, but slipped down the leaderboard with a final round of 71 (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

European captain Padraig Harrington admitted it was \u201cincredibly difficult\u201d to leave Justin Rose out of his side after naming Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Shane Lowry as his Ryder Cup wildcards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bernd Wiesberger\u2019s tie for 20th in the BMW PGA Championship saw him secure a debut at Whistling Straits at the end of the month, knocking Lowry out of the side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lowry could have replaced Lee Westwood with a top-eight finish and began the day in a tie for seventh, but slipped down the leaderboard with a final round of 71.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Westwood therefore qualified for a record-equaling 11th appearance in the biennial contest despite a closing 77, the 48-year-old joining Wiesberger, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland in the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking about his selection, Lowry said: \u201cIt\u2019s been a career-long dream to play in the Ryder Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI remember when the points race started, I said it was my number one goal and it has been for the last two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m just incredibly proud of what I have achieved. But there\u2019s no point going over there to make up the numbers. I want to win points and help bring the cup back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaving someone of Rose’s stature was \u201cincredibly difficult\u201d for Harrington, and he said. \u201cClearly he was in contention in his last two events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDid I need more? Maybe not but the fact of the matter is, with who he was going up against, the consistency of Shane Lowry, what Ian and Shane have brought over the years, somebody had to lose out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt really is as close as that. Alex Noren as well playing fantastic golf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t play your way in it\u2019s a tough place to be. It easily could have been JR or Alex Noren. It was so tight at the end of the day and we just went with the passion\u2026 the core, the heart of the team has been Ian and Sergio over the years, the consistency of Shane under pressure and under stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJR did deliver this week, it was just a step too far.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking before the announcement was made, Rose said: \u201cIt would be disappointing. You reflect on why. Is there something bigger at play because on the surface I feel pretty confident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it will be hard for him not to pick me but I had that with Monty (Colin Montgomerie in 2010), as well, and went a different way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho knows what the bigger plan is, and if he (Harrington) has a bigger plan, 100 per cent good luck to the boys and I\u2019ll be cheering as the rest of you will.”<\/p>\n

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