Padraig Harrington played in six consecutive Ryder Cups, helping Europe to four victories in the biennial matches in that span. But the most distinct match memory for Europe's 2020 captain came from one of his team's most bitter defeats.
Harrington was a rookie during the 1999 matches at Brookline, when the Europeans built a seemingly insurmountable 10-6 lead heading into the final day. While the Americans got off to a fast start, Harrington believed that his 1-up victory late in the day over Mark O'Meara had essentially clinched the cup for Europe, with Jose Maria Olazabal ahead of Justin Leonard a few holes behind.