Harrington says rift with Sergio is over
The European team lost the Ryder Cup this year, but at least one good thing came of the week in Kentucky: a thawing in the relationship between the continent's top two stars, Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia.
The relationship between the pair had been frosty since the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie, when Harrington defeated the Spaniard in a playoff. Garcia's subsequent press conference set a new standard for petulant whining, as he bemoaned his bad luck and suggested he was battling greater opponents than just the field. Things didn't get any warmer this summer when Garcia stumbled down the stretch at Oakland Hills, allowing the Dubliner to claim his third major title at the PGA Championship.
It is worth noting here that the cause of Sergio's anger toward Harrington wasn't due to a sucker punch or a slur against his momma. It was simply because he lost, fair and square. And he didn't much like that.
But Harrington has told the Irish Independent that the two healed their rift in Kentucky at the urging of fellow team members.
"It certainly has been difficult between me and Sergio. Things definitely got a little bit tense there, but the Ryder Cup really helped," Harrington said. "We spent the week in each other's company, played a couple of practice matches together and he got to say his piece, things he wanted to say all along."
So what exactly did Sergio want to say? Perhaps 'Well done!' or 'Congratulations, Paddy!' or perhaps even 'Sorry I acted like a jerk.'
Um, no.
"Some of the lads eventually drew it out of him and he got to tell me that he really wanted to smash that putter over my head," the Irishman revealed. "That was what I really wanted to hear and, though the Ryder Cup didn't do much for Europe, it did do a lot for me and Sergio."
(Photo: John Biever/SI)
Posted by: Rene Cuesta | Apr 14, 2009 12:46:09 PM
Tell Michele Wei to stop wearing those silly sunglasses when playng golf instead wear a prescription sunglasses that fits her well. Those sunglasses she's wearing are a distraction to her putting and fairway games.
Posted by: mark semelka | Dec 17, 2008 2:14:10 PM
sergio could care less what the public thinks he has millions in the bank dates supermodels does what he wants 24-7 and his knee aint broke like supermans is oh i guess he aint superman is he.
Posted by: John Bedford | Dec 17, 2008 7:57:41 AM
Good for Harrington, Sergio, and their peers. Always good to see reconciliation and maturing influences.
Posted by: Wayne McIntosh | Dec 11, 2008 8:57:19 PM
I see Sergio is trying to be Tiger-like; wearing all black in the final rounds of golf tourna-ments, well if it works go for it just please no more whining after close losses!
Posted by: Adrian | Dec 11, 2008 12:46:33 AM
These are professional atheletes and they play an individual sport and so they should be only concerned about themselves when they are competing. Do you think Tiger cares one bit about another players feelings unless it is a team competition. Tiger wants to blast the field by fourty strokes if he could and then do it again in the next tournament. ALL professional atheletes are selfish or they wouldn't be pro athletes. Especially golf where you paychek is in direct correlation to how well you play. Tiger hates every player in the field during a tourney and he is so angry at a bad shot that he screams cuss words in earshot of lil kids but he is the ultimate competitor and Sergio is a baby for wanting to win. Seems like a double standard to me.
Posted by: ron | Dec 10, 2008 8:15:50 PM
I personally think that Sergio is the biggest baby on the tour. With his winning and his poor sportsmanship, ( for example: the time he SPIT in the cup to show his disgust with his sorry putting ) to me I don't think he cares about nobody but himself and that is the only person that matters. If his fellow competitors allow this behavior to go on unchecked then so be it, as for me I could careless if he ever wins another PGA tournament again. As for Sergio wanting to brake his putter over Paddy's head well good luck Sergio
Posted by: Richard Romanishin | Dec 10, 2008 4:58:16 PM
Sergio's a little "puke"...
Posted by: Richard Romanishin | Dec 10, 2008 4:57:21 PM
Sergio's a little "puke"...
Posted by: M. Taylor | Dec 10, 2008 4:07:31 PM
Just as in life, every golfer is not going to be bosom buddies with every golfer. People are attracted to each other by commonalities. Golf is their job and they have to mix and mingle. As long as they are courteous to each other, they do not have to be friends or enemies for that matter. Why do the sports media want relationships in golf to be any different than they are in real life? I am sure that not all sportswriters are friends.
Posted by: JOshua Cantrell | Dec 10, 2008 12:00:09 PM
Hey writer/editors etc,
The headline for this editorial is complete crap. What are you guys the enquirer now.? I don't read golf to find out about the melodramatic hair pulling occurring between players. This is a low point for your site.
Posted by: harryboy | Dec 10, 2008 4:59:32 AM
Garcia is Garcia just like Daly is Daly ..
and do'nt we golfers admire their golfing skills ?
To hell with the rest.
Posted by: Chris | Dec 9, 2008 11:04:04 PM
Sergio has to be my sencond most favorite player beind Tiger, but his attitude sucks. Eveb if Padraig and Sergio are patching things up. You have to remeber Sergio is Sergio.
Posted by: Steven, Australia | Dec 9, 2008 5:45:18 PM
I wonder how many times Phil has wanted to smash Tiger over the head with his putter?
Posted by: Shayne Bodenbach | Dec 9, 2008 11:41:30 AM
Six feet? I think you're being generous Mike haha maybe say four or five?
Posted by: Just Mike | Dec 9, 2008 11:20:20 AM
Well if Sergio tried to hit him from 6 feet away he'd probably miss anyway...