US has copied European Ryder Cup strategy but home advantage key for Rome 2023

Pádraig Harrington

Pádraig Harrington believes home course advantage could be Europe’s only “edge” in Rome in 2023 after the US copied the European template to romp to a record 19-9 Ryder Cup win at Whistling Straits.

The Dubliner (50) returned to action in the Alfred Dunhill Links at Whistling Straits where he struggled with his short game and opened with a three-over 75 at Carnoustie as playing partner Shane Lowry shot 71.

"They do everything we've learned," Harrington said. "We've taught them a thing or two over the last 20 years. They've caught on. Every little bit of innovation that Europe has introduced to make an edge, they have now.

"Even down to trying to put their weakest pairs against our strongest. That's another statistical way of doing things. All the little niches were there. They do what we do. Plus, they were a pretty good team to come up against."

Harrington does not believe Europe needs to go back to the drawing board after suffering only their four defeat in 13 matches.

“There's no need to panic," he said. "As strong as they are, time is a great leveller. There are always ebbs and flows.

"We just have to do more of the same. We don't need to change anything. That's key. Two years is a long time in golf. We could be in the ascendency by then.

"They are on a right peak at the moment. To have so many players right at the top of the world rankings is not something we've seen for a long time.

"But, in two years' time, that might not be the case. We've been very successful in Europe so why would you change anything? We should just keep going forward with what we're doing."

The US hasn’t on on European soil since 1993 and Harrington can’t wait to see if the Americans put the same commitment into an away match as they did into Whistling Straits.

"The golf course may be the only edge we have going forward now, because they have everything," he said. "But they’ve kind of put themselves in a hole now, do they travel the week before to Italy, go over and practice, can they get them all to go? Is that the commitment they have for this Ryder Cup.?”

As for his decisions in Wisconsin, he remains happy, adding: "I did what I needed to do in the team room. The fact that my players are happy is all that counts for me.

"I was so worried that I wouldn't do a good job. That's the pressure and stress. But there is nothing we could have done differently.

"My team gave 100 percent pulling together. There's nothing more I could have asked from them. From my perspective, I'm very comfortable saying there is nothing more we could have done. That was just the way it is.”