Harrington plays up McIlroy’s Open hopes

Seven years ago Pádraig Harrington suffered a wrist injury that seemed almost certain to derail his defence of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Now the golf world waits wondering whether World No 1 Rory McIlroy will tee-up next week at St. Andrews to defend the famed Claret Jug.

While Harrington’s injury was to his wrist, he’s offered a little ray of hope McIlroy’s ankle could be strong enough this time next week to play four rounds of the Old Course.

“I’ve read the same reports as everyone else has and I really know nothing more than that, and if it’s at the wrong end of the scale, it could be a number of weeks,” said Harrington.

“If it’s at the right end of the scale, it could be cleared up pretty quickly.

‘It happened on Saturday, so up to Thursday next week that’s 12 days and that’s a reasonable amount of time.

“In 2008, I injured myself five days before the Open but by the time I got to play the sixth hole on the Thursday when I first put my wrist under any pressure it was fine.”

However Harrington’s biggest concern is the fact McIlroy injured his left leg. “The biggest issue, one that not too many people have picked up on, is that it’s his left ankle and that’s a big problem,” added Harrington.

“I did the same thing in ’91. I was still an amateur at the time and didn’t get it treated quickly enough or properly.

You can play golf with a bad right ankle without too much trouble. But it’s difficult putting weight on your left side.

“However the great thing is that he doesn’t need to turn up at the Old Course and play a load of practice rounds. Nobody needs that.

“And of all the Major Championship venues we play at, that’s probably the one where you can almost just turn up and play so Rory doesn’t even need to play one practice round.”

Justin Rose has also backed McIlroy’s decision to play football just days before the defence of his Open title — and revealed he relaxes by going spearfishing in the Bahamas.

“I think Rory has to keep doing what he’s been doing all his life,” Rose said. “I know him pretty well and I think he’s a guy who likes to live his life.”