Europe captain Padraig Harrington has named Robert Karlsson as his first vice-captain for the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

Karlsson performed the same role under Thomas Bjorn when Europe regained the trophy at Le Golf National in Paris last year.

The 50-year-old made two appearances in the biennial event as a player, helping Europe to a record-equalling win at The K Club in 2006 and playing in the defeat at Valhalla two years later.

Karlsson added: "It's fantastic. Padraig asked me a little while ago and I am really looking forward to this process and being part of a team again and helping Padraig along the way."

This week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth is the first qualifying event for the team and Harrington said: "There's no doubt that the points actually starting it really is feeling different, a different buzz.

"I swore to myself at the start of this not to get too involved in the points early on but I'm keen to see who is leading on Sunday already.

"We're already starting to get our statisticians to give us lists of potential players and I can already tell you the chance of players making the team. It's fascinating."