Thomas Bjorn has added major-winning experience and European Tour stalwarts to his backroom team for the Ryder Cup later this year.
Padraig Harington, who has voiced his desire to be picked as captain in 2020, 10-time member Lee Westwood, 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell and former world No 1 Luke Donald will assist Bjorn in Paris.
All-time leading European points scorer
Nick Faldo won 25 points from his 11 Ryder Cup appearances.
Lee Westwood is fourth on Europe’s all-time points scorers list, behind Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie.
The Danish captain made the announcement at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on Tuesday, a year after confirming two-time Ryder Cup player Robert Karlsson as his first vice-captain for the biennial matchplay event in Paris this September.
Karlsson, who made his debut in the 2006 edition at the K Club, became a distinguished member of the European Tour with 11 victories to his name but what is the record of Bjorn’s four newly-appointed vice-captains…
Last 10 editions of the Ryder Cup [1997-2016]
| Year | Venue | Winner | Result |
| 1997 | Valderrama | Europe | 14½–13½ |
| 1999 | The Country Club, Brookline | United States | 14½–13½ |
| 2002 | The Belfry | Europe | 15½–12½ |
| 2004 | Oakland Hills | Europe | 18½–9½ |
| 2006 | K Club | Europe | 18½–9½ |
| 2008 | Valhalla | United States | 16½–11½ |
| 2010 | Celtic Manor | Europe | 14½–13½ |
| 2012 | Medinah | Europe | 14½–13½ |
| 2014 | Gleneagles | Europe | 16½–11½ |
| 2016 | Hazeltine | United States | 17-11 |
Padraig Harrington
The two-time major champion last played in the team competition eight years ago, when a Colin Montgomerie-led Europe edged to victory against Corey Pavin’s United States at the end of a weather-affected week, which forced a historic Monday finish.
Harrington played three matches on his debut in 1999, winning his final day singles contest against Mark O’Meara and picking up a half point from his two foursomes matches alongside Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Four further back-to-back appearances were to follow. After two defeats on the opening day at The Belfry in 2002, the Irishman recovered to pick up a point from Saturday afternoon’s four-ball and an emphatic singles win against Mark Calcavecchia, as Europe secured a 15½ – 12½ success.
Padraig Harrington’s overall Ryder Cup record
Played 25, Won 9, Lost 13, Halved 3
Harrington only suffered one defeat from his five matches in 2004, with USA suffering the largest margin of defeat. Despite another dominant victory two years later, Harrington failed to pick up a winning point – something that was repeated at Valhalla in 2008.
Ross Fisher partnered Harrington to two victories from Saturday’s second session, with his week coming to an end with a singles defeat to Zach Johnson.
Lee Westwood
Westwood has played in every edition since 1997 but appears set to be forced to settle for a non-playing role this time around.
The Englishman needs one more appearance to equal the record 11 outings held by his first Ryder Cup partner Nick Faldo. The 45-year-old was unable to add to his already accumulated 23 points after a disappointing performance in Hazeltine two years ago.
Westwood, handed a wildcard in 2016 by Darren Clarke, has been an integral component behind Europe’s resurgence in the three-day competition over the past decade, with his determination to rise to the occasion almost always on show.
Lee Westwood’s record
Played 44, Won 20, Lost 18, Halved 6
One of his greatest moments from the event, aside from his debut alongside Faldo in 1999, will be his winning partnership with a grieving Clarke, who had lost his wife a few months earlier, in the final four-ball on the opening morning at the K Club in 2006.
Westwood opened with two wins from his five matches as a rookie in 1999, while he enjoyed unbeaten records at both Oakland Hills in 2004 and the K Club in 2006.
Graeme McDowell
The Northern Irishman is a four-time player and has only tasted defeat on one occasion – the comprehensive defeat to Paul Azinger’s team in 2008.
After missing the opening session at Valhalla, the rookie played in all of the remaining sessions picking up an impressive two and half points.
McDowell is well remembered as the player who holed the winning putt at Celtic Manor in 2010 after going head to head with Hunter Mahan in the final singles encounter. One defeat from his four outings underlined his importance in Wales.
Graeme McDowell’s record
Played 15, Won 8, Lost 5, Halved 2
McDowell’s partnership with compatriot Rory McIlroy continued at Medinah but they only picked up one point from a possible three and despite a singles defeat to Zach Johnson, he was able to celebrate a memorable final day comeback victory.
Gleneagles saw him produce a perfect record for Paul McGinley’s winning side, with Victor Dubuisson and McDowell forming a strong foursomes pairing.
Luke Donald
Donald never finished on the losing side in his four appearances, suffering four defeats in all.
The Englishman holds a perfect foursomes record and formed a strong partnership with Sergio Garcia in both 2004 and 2006, when the duo won all four foursomes matches they played.
At Medinah he picked up two points, including leading the final day singles comeback, but suffered two heavy foursomes defeats.
Luke Donald’s record
Played 15, Won 10, Lost 4, Halved 1
The former winner of both the European and American money lists hasn’t played since missing the cut at the RBC Heritage last month, with a back injury, and will be part of the Sky Sports team at the BMW PGA Championship this week.
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May 24, 2018, 10:00am
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