Grieving Harrington pulls out of Open as father passes away

Padraig Harrington has pulled out of the British Open following the death of his father tonight.

A former policeman, Patrick Harrington had been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in March, the week after his son captured his first US tour title.

Harrington did not play in last week’s Scottish Open and had stayed in Dublin knowing that his father’s condition had worsened.

The diagnosis of inoperable cancer four months ago put a question mark over Harrington’s participation in the Players Championship and Masters which followed, but his father persuaded him to play.

It made his second PGA Tour victory in the Barclays Classic three weeks ago all the more sweet, although his father was too ill to watch the late night television coverage live.

He was later shown a video of Harrington’s amazing 65-foot eagle putt on the final green to snatch the title from Jim Furyk.