Padraig Harrington Reduces Number Of Ryder Cup Wildcard Picks

The European captain may reduce the number of Ryder Cup wildcard picks to three

Padraig Harrington Reduces Number Of Ryder Cup Wildcard Picks
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The European captain will have just three wildcard picks for 2020 instead of the previous four

Padraig Harrington Reduces Number Of Ryder Cup Wildcard Picks

Padraig Harrington has reduced the number of wildcard picks for the 2020 European Ryder Cup team from four to three.

Ahead of the 2018 Ryder Cup, the number of wildcards for Team Europe was raised from three to four after previously being two up until 2012.

However, Harrington has dropped that number back to three.

That's because number nine on the standings, the man to miss out by a single place, is highly unlikely to be ignored for a wildcard pick.

The three-time Major winner hinted that he wanted the number of wildcards reduced earlier this year.

Harrington told BBC Sport in January,"I'm getting some stats done at the moment on whether to go for three or four.

"My thinking is, does the ninth guy ever get skipped over?

"I don't think it has happened and I think players are more comfortable and more confident if they've qualified directly rather than getting a pick.

"So I'd prefer more players to qualify than if I picked them but I will have a look at those stats. Anecdotally number nine always gets a pick so why not let them qualify?"

Related: Padraig Harrington's career timeline

Thomas Bjorn chose Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia as his four wildcard picks in 2018.

That came Darren Clarke picked Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Ian Poulter as his three wildcards in 2016.

Poulter was again a wildcard pick in 2012 where Jose Maria Olazabal had just two picks, with Nicolas Colsaerts being the second.

Harrington is the third Irishman to captain Europe in the last four Ryder Cups.

The match takes place in 2020 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

Expand Where Is The Ryder Cup In 2022?

Where Is The Ryder Cup In 2022

Where Is The Ryder Cup In 2022?

Where will the Ryder Cup be held once…

Expand 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Padraig Harrington

Where Is The Ryder Cup In 2022

20 Things You Didn’t Know About Padraig Harrington

Get to know European Ryder Cup Captain Padraig…

Expand John Daly Requests Buggy For Open Championship

John Daly Requests Buggy For Open Championship

John Daly Requests Buggy For Open Championship

The American needs a buggy due to a…

For all the latest golf news, check the Golf Monthly website and follow our social media channels

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV