Graeme McDowell has backed Padraig Harrington to become Europe's 2018 Ryder Cup golf captain.

They will be trying to regain the trophy from the USA in Paris after failing to win a fourth tournament in a row this year.

McDowell has played in the competition four times but didn't make it on to the team for the weekend defeat at Hazeltine, with Darren Clarke captaining Europe.

He told Sky Sports News that Europe could do a lot worse than choose Harrington as their next skipper.

"He's certainly got the playing credentials. He'd be your third Irishman in a row," he said, before joking, "maybe you guys are sick of seeing Irish captains".

"I think you've got to be looking at Harrington, Thomas Bjorn and Paul Lawrie."

If Harrington were to captain Europe in 2018, it would mean Irishmen have skippered the team for three tournaments in a row, following Paul McGinley (2014) and Clarke (2016).