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Harrington: I would quit if it wasn't the Open

16/07/2008

Reigning champion Padraig Harrington has said the wrist injury he is carrying would have forced him out of any tournament other than the Open.

The 36-year-old is currently undergoing intensive treatment on his troublesome joint in order to be fit enough to tee off in defence of his title at Royal Birkdale tomorrow.

But fears that the Irishman will be forced to pull out before his first round starts at 7:58 BST on Thursday were exacerbated when Harrington played just two shots of his warm-up round this morning before seeking medical advice.

Although he later returned to the course and completed his round, Harrington remains reluctant to play shots from the rough for fear of making his wrist problem worse.

And he said earlier that the only reason he is still planning to compete is because of the nature of the tournament.

"If it wasn't the Open I would have pulled out," he said yesterday.

"I would have had treatment and then decided I couldn't risk it. But because it's Open week I'll make the effort."

Harrington initially suffered the injury last weekend as he completed a four-shot victory over Philip Walton to take the Irish PGA Championship title at the European Club in County Wicklow.

He had since played only nine practice holes on Tuesday - again shying away from shots out of the rough - before taking to the course today.