FEUD FOR THOUGHT: Padraig Harrington, hitting a tee shot on his way to the first-round lead at The Barclays yesterday, is hoping to make the European Ryder Cup team as a captain’s selection. The problem, though, is he’s had a running dispute with Euro captain Jose Maria Olazabal. (
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There is a delicious scenario brewing at Bethpage Black after yesterday’s opening round of The Barclays Championship, where Padraig Harrington seized a one-shot lead with his 7-under-par 64.
Harrington tops a packed leaderboard that includes Nick Watney and Brian Harman at 6-under; Sergio Garcia, Pat Perez, Gary Christian and Jimmy Walker at 5-under; five players, including Rickie Fowler, at 4-under; and a long list at 3-under, including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
From across the Atlantic Ocean at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland, European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal is keeping close tabs on Harrington, whom he hardly considers a friend.
Harrington, who shot 29 on the back nine yesterday, is in a desperate push to make his seventh Ryder Cup team, having not earned enough points to secure an automatic spot, and Olazabal holds the key.
This is not good for Harrington, who’s had a simmering feud with Olazabal since a 2003 row with the Spaniard at the Seve Trophy.
The two were involved in a pivotal final-day singles match, and on the third hole Harrington asked for a referee ruling on whether Olazabal was entitled to repair two pitch marks on his putting line.
While Harrington waited for the official, Olazabal made the repairs anyway, prompting Harrington to sarcastically question Olazabal about his “gardening.’’ Despite Harrington insisting he wasn’t questioning Olazabal’s integrity, the Spaniard angrily picked up his ball, conceded the hole, stormed to the next tee and played the rest of the match in silence.
Harrington eventually halved the match to help Great Britain and Ireland retain the trophy.
A heated discussion between Harrington and Olazabal ensued right after the match and, when Harrington emerged, he said, “It’s not worth losing a friend over, but we had 15 very awkward holes. I was not trying to question his integrity, but that’s what he thought and I can 10 percent see his side.’’
Olazabal said, “We had a difference of opinion and I’m not going to waste any more time talking about it.”
Fasting forward to the present situation, when Olazabal was asked at the PGA Championship two weeks ago about Harrington, he said the Irishman needed to do “something extraordinary’’ to be picked to the team.
Those words did not sit well with Harrington. In fact, when informed yesterday that bookmakers in the UK have installed him as one of the favorites to be picked to the team, he joked, “Apparently the bookmakers don’t understand the definition of ‘extraordinary.’ ’’
When Olazabal was approached yesterday at Gleneagles with news of Harrington’s fast start at Bethpage, he was asked, “What constitutes extraordinary?’’
“At least a win,’’ Olazabal said.
Ouch.
There were some funny exchanges between reporters and the always-affable Harrington after his round yesterday. While Harrington tried to divert Ryder Cup talk, eventually the topic would always circle back to the Ryder Cup, which takes place next month at Medinah.
Asked how he would “characterize’’ his relationship with Olazabal, Harrington said, “I don’t know where I sit … or maybe I do.’’
He politely said he’d rather not “get into’’ the discussion “because I’m either going to do one of two things — I’m either going to look like I’m pleading or I’m going to look like I’m incriminating myself.’’
“You, over here, have this thing called the Fifth [Amendment],’’ Harrington said. “I’m going to plead the Fifth. I’m not going to build myself up or I’m not going to tear myself down. At the end of the day, it’s up to [Olazabal].’’
Harrington went on to say he, “was very supportive of José when he got the captaincy,’’ adding, “I truly believe that he’s interested in winning the Ryder Cup. I believe he would put winning way above anything that’s personal.’’
Harrington then stopped himself, saying, “Why am I talking about it? There you go.’’
“Look, it’s a tough situation I’m in,’’ he went on. “I didn’t play enough [in European Tour events that count for qualifying points]. I’d dearly love to play in the Ryder Cup.’’
He stopped himself again, saying, “See, I’m starting to plead now.’’
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com