KEY POINTS:
Already there are whispers in the dunes at Royal Birkdale of the doomed Open.
Golf's number one event has already lost its best player, Tiger Woods, and now the hopes of the defending champion, Padraig Harrington, are all but shattered.
If the Irishman is to become the first
European to win back-to-back Opens in more than 100 years, he will have to replicate what Woods achieved at the US Open last month: victory in spite of an injury that should really have forced him to stay at home.
Harrington has revealed that he strained his right wrist so badly during a weekend indoor practice session that he has been unable to play from the rough since.
He managed to play only nine holes yesterday instead of an expected 18, and until he forces himself to play from the thick stuff today - when his swollen hand will be under greater strain than for any other shot - he will not know how capable he is of playing effectively.
"If it wasn't the Open I would have pulled out [already]. I would have come for treatment and then decided I could not risk it. But because it's Open week I will definitely make the effort."
The 36-year-old Dubliner is scheduled to begin the defence of the title he won at Carnoustie a year ago alongside South Africa's Retief Goosen and Justin Leonard of the US. Even if he requires large amounts of anti-inflammatories and painkillers to make it to the tee, he expects to be there. Less certain is whether he can do himself justice.
There are also concerns over what further damage he might do by playing when injured. Any exacerbation will throw fresh doubt on his participation in September's Ryder Cup at Valhalla.
Woods is already out of that event because he is recovering from reconstructive surgery and stress fractures.
In all likelihood, Britain's Luke Donald will miss the cup too, with a wrist injury sustained the same week which has ruled him out of the Open.
Ironically, three of the roadside advertising hoardings for the Open on the main approach route , feature huge photographs, in sequence, of Woods, Donald and Harrington.
"I know I will not get through 72 holes this week without going in the rough and the biggest worry is if I do something that will flare it up and give me a problem," Harrington said.
Yesterday's nine holes were played without serious ill-effects, although Harrington kicked rather than played the ball out of rough on to the fairway.
"I'm taking anti-inflammatories as it is and I will probably protect the wrist in the tournament," he said. "I didn't today because I wanted to see how it was ... It's inflamed, but I was pain-free for those nine holes."
He took the rest of the day off on the advice of his chiropractor. If all goes well, he will play a full round today with at least one shot from the rough.
The injury happened at his home, a few hours after his successful defence of the Irish PGA Championship. He was swinging his driver into an "impact ball" when he "felt something" in his wrist.
"On Sunday I couldn't lift a club even to chip. It was a serious concern then because I couldn't go and test it. I couldn't see if it was better or worse."
- INDEPENDENT
