It all points to a big debut

Harrington backs 'tough nut' MacIntyre to shine in Rome

- BERNIE MCGUIRE

PADRAIG HARRINGTON has handed Bob Macintyre a glowing confidence lift just weeks away from the Ryder Cup in Rome.

MacIntyre and Tommy Fleetwood earned the two automatic qualifying spots into Luke Donald's European side.

MacIntyre is the first Scot since Stevie Gallacher in 2014 to wear the Euro team colours.

Harrington, a playing veteran of six European Teams, captained Europe two years ago along the shores of Lake Michigan where a red-hot USA side sent them packing.

But he reckons MacIntyre will do Europe proud when it comes to racking up points against Zach Johnson's Americans.

Harrington, who perhaps could have heeded his own words of advice after a threeunder 69 to survive the cut on two-under par at the Irish Open yesterday, said:

"It's great Bob qualified automatically and all he has to do is to trust himself. Be himself and be comfortable in his own skin, which I think Bob is.

"We know Bob's won on the host course, so he knows it well and that's a plus. He just needs to go there and play his own game.