Ryder Cup rivals fear Harrington

Double major champion Padraig Harrington has been marked out for special attention by the United States Ryder Cup squad, it was revealed today.

Harrington's back-to-back victories in last month's Open Championship and Sunday's US PGA Championship will make him the lead player in Nick Faldo's Europe side to defend the Ryder Cup at Valhalla, in Louisville, next month.

And that has put him in the sights of Boo Weekley, a keen hunter in his spare time, who said of Harrington: "He's got a target on his back, yes sir.

It would be an honour to beat him."

American captain Paul Azinger believes that defeating Harrington would give his team the same kind of lift that bringing down Tiger Woods gave Europe in past Cup clashes.

Azinger said: "If somebody happens to beat Padraig, I'm sure it would give us a boost.

"There's no doubt that beating Tiger Woods has given Europe a boost. Maybe our team has looked up and gone 'oh my gosh, Tiger's losing'."

Azinger will reveal his four captain's picks on 2 September, two days after Faldo announces Europe's line-up.