No white smoke yet in Harrington’s Ryder Cup captaincy wait
Padraig Harrington
Hopes of white smoke in Padraig Harrington's quest for the 2020 Ryder Cup captaincy are unlikely before Christmas.
CEO Keith Pelley had hoped that the European Tour’s five-strong selection committee would be able to announce its decision before the holidays.
But it’s understood he has yet to sit down with a representative from the Players Committee and immediate past captains Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn to discuss the captaincy, which means a pre-Christmas announcement now looks doubtful.
With Lee Westwood happy to wait until 2022 or later to do the job, Harrington is considered the hot favourite to lead Europe’s trophy defence at Whistling Straits.
Wisconsin native Steve Stricker is considered the likely US captain in his home state and it would be a surprise if he is not a vice-captain for Tiger Woods in the 2019 Presidents Cup in Australia.
Woods admitted on a scouting mission to Royal Melbourne this week that he hasn't ruled out being a playing captain against Ernie Els' International team from December 9-15 next year.
"I'm part of the team either way, okay," said Woods, who is 16th in the qualifying race. "We'll have our top eight guys, and hopefully I'll be part of the top eight.
"If not, then myself and my vice-captains are going to have to figure out as well as the other top eight players who are the next four guys that will be best served to be part of this team."
Meanwhile, tummy trouble scuppered Mount Juliet's Gavin Moynihan in the opening round of the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg.
The Dubliner (24) was feeling unwell at Randpark Golf Club and posted a four-over 75 on the Firethorn Course, where Michael Hoey (39) also shot 75, and Old Conna's Neil O'Briain (32) signed for a five-over 76.
"Struggled today," Moynihan said after mixing three front nine birdies with a double bogey at the sixth before following further dropped shots at the 10th and 11th with a crippling triple-bogey seven at the 16th.
"I'm not feeling good, to be honest. My stomach is not 100%. It was also very windy, and my iron play was just off today."
O’Briain, who won last season’s Sunshine Tour Rookie of the Year award, was rusty in his first start back since his wedding last month.
“It was tough with strong winds on the big course, Firethorn,” said the Old Conna professional, who is also entered for next week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.
“I struggled with the game big time— very, very rusty after the build up to the wedding, preparing for it, so I’m very disappointed. But will get back at it and obviously looking forward to next week.”
Oosthuizen made the perfect start in his bid to win his home open for the first time, carding a nine-under 62 on the shorter but narrower Bushwillow layout.
The 2010 Open champion went out in three-under 32 before making six birdies in a back nine of 30 to lead by one stroke from Zambia's Madalitso Muthiya and last week's Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open winner, Kurt Kitayama.
The American continued his remarkable start to his European Tour career with an immaculate, eight-under 63 on the Firethorn Course, where South Africa's Zander Lombard shot 64 to sit alone in fourth.
“Any time, anywhere, nine under is always going to feel nice,” Oosthuizen said. “It was one of those rounds where you don’t really look at any scoreboard or your card, you just play."
England's Matt Wallace shares fifth place after a six-under 65 on the Bushwillow track where Ernie Els shot 66 to share eighth place.
With Oosthuizen already exempt, Mutyiha, Kitayama and Lombard are the three players in the top ten and ties who are on track to win places in The Open at Royal Portrush next year.
