Harrington speaks about Garcia Rivalry...

Mr. Larson

Taken from Sky Sports.

Padraig Harrington says he and Ryder Cup team-mate Sergio Garcia "have zero in common, bar the fact that we both play golf".

The European pair have been vying for the top in recent years, with Spaniard Garcia currently ranked second in the world and Harrington fourth.

Despite the statistics, Irishman Harrington edged out his rival at the Open to claim his first major title, and he then followed up in similar circumstances en route to USPGA success in the summer.

Those results leave 28-year-old Garcia still to win a major and it seems the intensity of their competition of the last few years has somewhat strained their relationship.

Opposites
"We have zero in common, bar the fact that we both play golf," Harrington told The Guardian. "He is the antithesis of me, and I am the antithesis of him.

"We play the game in exactly the opposite way. He is destined to find the long game easy and the short game hard, and I am the opposite.

"We're also competitors who for the last few years have been vying over who is the number one golfer in Europe.

"I think in the hearts and minds of a lot of people Garcia would have been number one, while I have been ranked number one. As you can imagine, no quarter is given.

"It is not as if we have ever had a row or a run-in. I have had plenty of run-ins with people and we would be friends but [with Garcia] it is just, well, we are so much the opposite of each other."

The two are sure to lock horns in the majors again in 2009, with Harrington bidding for a third successive major at the Masters in spring.

Mister Sifter

Roll on the autobiographies! I'd love to hear what their relationship is really like...

Mister Sifter

Interesting that the majority of media who have repeated the Guardian's story left this bit out...

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Yet if Harrington was happy to concede that he and the Spaniard would never be close friends, he also insisted that relations improved during September's Ryder Cup, where the two players were members of the beaten European team. "It was one of the few good things that came out of that week," he said.

The pair played practice rounds together at Valhalla and, after being teased by other team members about a photograph on the team room wall showing Harrington holing a crucial putt at the PGA Championship, García conceded he had wanted to smash the club over the Irishman's head.

WHIP IT!

Graeme1982 wrote: »

Interesting that the majority of media who have repeated the Guardian's story left this bit out...

---

Yet if Harrington was happy to concede that he and the Spaniard would never be close friends, he also insisted that relations improved during September's Ryder Cup, where the two players were members of the beaten European team. "It was one of the few good things that came out of that week," he said.

The pair played practice rounds together at Valhalla and, after being teased by other team members about a photograph on the team room wall showing Harrington holing a crucial putt at the PGA Championship, García conceded he had wanted to smash the club over the Irishman's head.

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story Graemo! :rolleyes:

SalthillGuy

IMO the Harrington - Garcia rivarly is no big deal.
This attitude runs right through the American tour.
Just because they are not the best of buddies, we think they are arch rivals. It is just healthy sporting rivarly.

ziggy

This post has been deleted.

soundsham

nice to get the full story thanks graeme.....

its much better to hear the two of them have had a laugh or joke about it(thankfully @ sergio's expense:p) but ultimately the got on and played as team players for europe

surely it has to be agreed that they should both be praised for the entertainment the gave in each of their clashes........beats watchin the yanks fold to tiger any day!!!!!!!!!!;);)

istaunton

soundsham wrote: »

nice to get the full story thanks graeme.....

its much better to hear the two of them have had a laugh or joke about it(thankfully @ sergio's expense:p) but ultimately the got on and played as team players for europe

surely it has to be agreed that they should both be praised for the entertainment the gave in each of their clashes........beats watchin the yanks fold to tiger any day!!!!!!!!!!;);)

Have to agree with this one. And i'm sure if it was anyone else that holed that put Garcia would have wanted crack them over the head just as much. Its only natural:D

GreeBo

Garcia was full of the joys of spring when VJ holed out from 20ft in their playoff though.
Also I have heard from close sources that Garcia was acting extra fidgety during the first playoff hole for the open. Bending down to tie his shoelace as Harrington was preparing to hit is tee shot.

Rivalry is fine, and I think eurogolf needs more of it, we cant all be friends all the time, but I think deliberately distracting other players is a step too far.

Anyway, the only person Garcias mind games seem to bother are himself!