Ryder Cup: Padraig Harrington named Team Europe vice-captain

After leading Europe to a comfortable victory at Rome’s Marco Simone Golf Club in 2023, captain Donald was in post to guide them to a stunning victory on US soil at Bethpage Black in New York in 2025.

At Adare Manor, he became the first captain to win three in a row and the fourth captain to lead three consecutive Ryder Cups after Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Bernard Gallacher.

He says Harrington will form a key part of his backroom staff to make history.

“I’ve been around Padraig in a lot of Ryder Cup team rooms as a player, as a vice-captain in his captaincy and he’s been a vice-captain before,” Donald said. “So he brings a lot of experience.

“I like the fact that there’s a connection. He understands the Irish crowd and what goes on with the Ryder Cup in Ireland. I think it’s going to be very special for him.

“He loves what he has achieved in the game in Ireland and it will give our team even more strength.”

The competition will be held in Ireland for the first time since 2006, when Harrington was in the European team that won 18½-9½ at the K Club, County Kildare.

“You don’t want to miss it being in Ireland, so I’m very happy,” added Harrington. “I think it will be a spectacular occasion and a great sporting event to play in the country. The whole of Ireland will get behind it, watch it, enjoy it and live it.

“The fans are going to be fantastic, and I think the atmosphere is second to none.”

In total, Harrington played in 25 matches across six Ryder Cups, winning 10½ points for Team Europe, while also boasting 44 tournament wins in an illustrious career.

He still plays on the DP World Tour and in major championships, most recently The Open.

Since turning 50 in 2021, he has starred on the Champions Tour, including a record-tying three US Senior Open titles.