Round 4: The Barclays

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Padraig Harrington got the nod, but Paul Casey got left behind for Europe’s Ryder Cup team

Paul Casey said it was "difficult." Padraig Harrington acknowledged that it was "not a great situation to be in."

Casey, the Englishman, and Harrington, the Irishman, were paired together in Sunday’s final round of The Barclays. Each one was also waiting to hear Sunday afternoon whether he would be named as a captain’s pick by Colin Montgomerie for the European Ryder Cup team.

Harrington was. Casey wasn’t. And when Harrington found out on the sixth hole at Ridgewood — his wife Caroline, having received a text message, gave the thumb’s-up sign to caddie Ronan Flood — the rest of the round was awkward for both players.

"It was an odd occasion, all right, in that sense," Harrington said. "You know, on one hand I’m happy for myself, but I did genuinely feel sorry for Paul. It’s not a great situation to be in …  but as I said, once you’re not on the team automatically, you do leave yourself up to this.

"And it’s not a nice place to be, I can tell you that."

Casey, in fact, had still not officially received word that he did not make the team. Montgomerie had left a message for Casey, but not until after Casey already started his round.

But Casey knew from Caroline Harrington’s silence late in the front nine that it was not to be.

"Caroline’s a great friend," Casey said, still trying to digest the news. "She would have said something to me if I had been picked. So at that point I kind of knew that I hadn’t."

Ironically, it was Casey, not Harrington, who ended up having the better round on Sunday. Casey shot a 2-under 69 to finish at 7 under for the tournament, while Harrington posted a 4-over 75 to finish at 1 under.

Both players are assured of advancing to next week’s Deutsche Bank Championship.

"I’ve got to say it was really hard to focus out there," Harrington said. "It was very, very hard to stick to your job. It was awkward."

Harrington, Casey, Luke Donald and Justin Rose — the four European candidates playing The Barclays this week — knew that the announcement would be disappointing for at least one of them.

And when Edoardo Molinari won the European Tour event in Scotland earlier in the day, the four knew he would get one of the three spots, leaving just two open.

Those two belong to Donald and Harrington, as they will play for Europe in Wales the first week in October, while Casey (ranked ninth in the world) and Rose (winner of two TOUR events this year) will sit it out.

"I’m not going to stand here and sort of plead a case for why I should be on the team," Casey said. "It’s done and dusted. I tried my hardest and I didn’t make it."

Harrington, at 38 the oldest of the four candidates, figured his experience played a large part in making the team. He’s also the only one of the four who have major championship wins in his pocket.

"I won’t normally play the age card," he said, "but this time it obviously suits me."

Harrington then summed it up best.

"It’s amazing how it came down this year," he said.