Harrington Pledges To Get Tattoo If Europe Wins Ryder Cup

The Irishman is to follow in Thomas Bjorn's footsteps if his side retain the Ryder Cup trophy...

Padraig Harrington pictured during the 2020 Ryder Cup
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Irishman is to follow in Thomas Bjorn's footsteps if his side retains the Ryder Cup trophy...

Padraig Harrington has revealed that he will be getting a tattoo if Europe wins the 2020 Ryder Cup.

The Irishman will follow in the footsteps of 2018 triumphant captain Thomas Bjorn, who famously got a tattoo of the winning scoreline after Paris.

Bjorn got the 17.5 - 10.5 scoreline tattoo'd a couple of months after Europe's stunning victory at Le Golf National, which was posted in a video via the European Ryder Cup team.

Watch the video of Bjorn's tattoo:

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Harrington admits that it has now become a tradition and an "unwritten rule" for winning European captains to get a tattoo.

"I am delighted that that's all they ask for, but I'd have given up a lot more. So yes, I will be getting a tattoo," he said.

"If my team produce a winning week, I will be getting a tattoo to mark the occasion, and very comfortable that they only asked that much of me because I would have given more.

Related: 5 important questions for Padraig Harrington ahead of the Ryder Cup

"I think it's an unwritten rule, so it has come up, yes, in conversation. Maybe they didn't ask. Maybe I offered and they felt that was enough.

"But definitely, yeah, it's a given now in Europe. Captain has to get a tattoo.

"And I don't have any other tattoos at this stage, so it would be a new experience for me.

"Where on the body? I don't know. It depends -- no, I can't go that route. Depends how long it is."

Related: Ryder Cup Team Europe Numbers Explained

Harrington seeks to emulate Jose Maria Olazabal this week, who was the last European captain to win on US soil back at Medinah in 2012.

All of the last three Ryder Cups have been won by the home side, although the Irishman will hope that run ends this week.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV