Forget Pavin's Dilemma, Why Should Monty Pick Padraig?
/While John Huggan reminds us of Monty's plight and the possibility that he may yet have to resign if things get dicey publicity-wise, Lawrence Donegan takes issue with several players skipping the Czech Open and next week's final qualifying event at Gleneagles.
After that, Monty's selection process – he has three picks– becomes Monty's dilemma. For this he can thank – or more likely curse – Paul Casey, Padriag Harrington, Luke Donald and Justin Rose, all of whom might have been expected to have cemented their place by now but who have not. Casey is the only one of the four holding one of the nine automatic places, by 1,247 points from Harrington, while Donald lost his place by a quirk of the system that saw him fall victim as Kaymer climbed up the points table.
The painful question that has to be asked on the Euro side: do you select Padraig Harrington if he doesn't make it on points and isn't making the effort in the final two weeks to play? Like passing up Tiger, it's almost unthinkable to leave him off the squad. But there are Euro players out there playing much better who may not make the team. As deep as Europe is, I say Monty has to take a pass on Padraig. You say?