Padraig Harrington set to be announced as 2020 Ryder Cup captain

Harrington has been involved in the preparation for the past three Ryder Cups and received full backing from the players after victory in Paris

The European Tour has called a press conference on Tuesday at headquarters in Wentworth where The Independent understands Padraig Harrington will be announced as the 2020 Ryder Cup captain.

Harrington and Lee Westwood were the two frontrunners to lead Europe at Hazeltine, but the latter ruled himself out in October after victory in Paris suggesting that he’d prefer to captain the team at home in 2022.

Harrington has been involved in the preparations for the past three Ryder Cups since playing in six himself between 1999 and 2010.

Paul Lawrie and Miguel Angel Jimenez were also in contention for the position and may still possibly feature as vice-captains.

The European Tour have told The Independent that they will not make any comment until Tuesday.

A host of players were quick to back the 47-year-old after victory in Paris in September including Rory McIlroy who gave his full endorsement to Harrington.

“I think you need a certain type of captain in the United States, and a certain type of captain in Europe,” McIlroy explained. “For me, Padraig Harrington would be a great captain in the US because of his playing record, which includes winning the USPGA, and because everyone over there likes him.

“Even though the match didn’t go our way, I thought Darren Clarke was a great captain for a match in the US, because he has got a connection with the fans over there, just as Padraig does.

Harrington will meanwhile miss the start of the European Tour season having broken a bone in his wrist and is targeting a return at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in early February.