The Europeans won the two-day contest, featuring both boys and girls, 81/2-31/2.. I think we will have done really well if we get into that position.”Harrington had laser surgery on his dominant left eye only a week ago and had long discussions with his coach, Bob Torrance, and his psychologist, Bob Rotella, before playing in Germany “I am surprised how quickly it has turned around,” he said. And you can’t really use past performances because the team changes so much every two years.”I have been asked whether I would like to have a putt to win the match like Langer did at Kiawah Island in 1991. Playing with new clubs at the Canadian Open last weekend, the Masters champion, Phil Mickelson, finished well down the field, having been last following a third round of 79.But Harrington was not getting carried about by the positives vibes surrounding the European team “The United States are favourites,” the Irishman insisted “They are always favourites and I think rightly so Europe will have to play above themselves They have more highly ranked than us and more major winners. The result brought the number of wins by members of the team this season to 11. The Americans have seven but only Stewart Cink has won since May.

His win followed those by Miguel Angel Jimenez and Luke Donald in the previous two weeks.”The run of winners in the last few weeks is fantastic,” Langer said. “I could not ask for anything more.” Langer had mentioned to one of his assistants, Thomas Bjorn, last week that the one player he was a bit concerned about was Harrington. Bjorn replied: “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.”"On a personal level I’m delighted for Padraig,” Langer added. Padraig has not promised he will be able to join the party.The world’s No 8 golfer won for the first time this year at Gut Larchenhof to give Bernhard Langer’s Europeans the perfect send-off as they flew from Heathrow to Detroit yesterday.

Joey Harrington is a distant cousin of the winner of the Linde German Masters, and the quarterback for the Detroit Lions.
The Lions opened their American Football NFL season with a win over Chicago and will be playing their first home game next Sunday. In the meantime, Joey, who insists he will be cheering on the home team in the Ryder Cup, hopes to catch some of the action at Oakland Hills and most of the Harringtons over from Ireland will be enjoying their American cousin’s hospitality. There was a family double for the Harringtons on Sunday but both Padraig and Joey will be hoping the same does not come true next weekend. However, there is no point in going into anything being frightened by what you face.”Celtic’s Chris Sutton has battled to overcome a hamstring injury, but Barcelona will be without Thiago Motta, who has a knee injury.Celtic (probable 4-4-2): Marshall; Agathe, Bald?Varga, McNamara; Petrov, Lennon, Juninho, Thompson; Hartson, Camara.Barcelona (probable 4-4-2): Valdes; Belleti, Puyol, Edmilson, Oleguer; Giuly, Xavi, Ronaldinho, Deco; Eto’o, Larsson.Referee: M Merk (Ger)..