European captain Padraig Harrington is set to end the 43rd Ryder Cup a marked man – win or lose at Whistling Straits.
Thomas Bjorn followed through on his promise to get a tattoo done after captaining Europe’s 17.5-10.5 win at Le Golf National in Paris three years ago – for his girlfriend Grace’s eyes only – and the three-time major winner Harrington is happy to oblige this new tradition.
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If my team produce a winning week, I will be getting a tattoo to mark the occasion, and very comfortable that they only asked that much of me because I would have given more.
Harrington will get tattoo if Europe win Ryder Cup
“It’s a given now in Europe. Captain has to get a tattoo. And I don’t have any other tattoos at this stage, so it would be a new experience for me.”
Of course, Harrington is likely to have other things on his mind if his side fail to perform at Whistling Straits.
Losing Ryder Cup captains are rarely shielded from blame.
To the victor, the spoils, the loser ends up confronting a level of regret and recrimination that makes the captain’s experience a winner-takes-all contest in every sense.
Sometimes, the business at hand can go beyond merely choosing the right players for the job.
“It’s a thankless job, being a captain,” said US captain Hal Sutton following his side’s record 18.5-9.5 beating at Oakland Hills in 2004 that saw him castigated for having the foresight to play Tiger Woods alongside MIckelson on the opening day.
It is not fraternising with hyperbole to suggest Harrington’s tattoo would be a mark of success that he can hardly do without.
Losing leaves its own scar.
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Source: Euro Sports
