Harrington not ready to give up Ryder Cup playing ambitions

[October 25, 2016]  (Reuters) - Padraig Harrington is not ready to sacrifice years of his career to take up the captaincy of Europe's Ryder Cup team, if offered the job for the 2018 edition, and says he wants to face the Americans at Le Golf National in Paris in a playing capacity.

The three-times major winner, who secured his first European Tour win in eight years on Sunday at the Portugal Masters, was a vice-captain at the last two Ryder Cups and played in the 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 editions.

"I want to be a player," Harrington told Sky Sports. "If I go for the captaincy nobody is going to give me back the 45th and 46th years in terms of my playing career.

"It's a huge sacrifice and as much as I would love to be Ryder Cup captain, selfishly I want to be a golfer."

The Irishman said the commitment to leading the team had taken years away from the playing careers of the last two European captains.

"With the Ryder Cup, Paul McGinley kind of changed the parameters. It took three-and-a-half years out of his life. It certainly took two years out of Darren Clarke's playing career," he added.

"Hopefully I will get an opportunity down the road. Whether it's a reality or not or whether it's a possibility, in my head I am going to make the Ryder Cup team in 2018."

Ireland's Padraig Harrington plays his approach on the 18th hole during the third round. Action Images via Reuters / Lee Smith

A decision on Europe's next captain, with Denmark's Thomas Bjorn regarded as the favorite, is expected in the coming months

The United States defeated Europe 17-11 in Minnesota earlier this month to get their hands on the Cup for the first time since 2008.

(Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru)

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