Harrington to play through the pain

Tiger Woods has shown it is possible to win a major while injured – now it is Padraig Harrington’s turn in the defence of his Open title.

While Woods’ knee injury keeps him from competing at Royal Birkdale, Harrington is determined to tee it up in tomorrow’s first round despite suffering a wrist injury on Saturday.

Harrington played only nine holes of practice yesterday, without attempting a single shot out of the rough, before being advised to rest it further.

“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,” the Irishman admitted.

“If it wasn’t the Open I would have pulled out. 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.”

Of course Harrington is well aware that Woods won the US Open last month effectively on one leg, but the world number one is now out for the rest of the year while Luke Donald picked up a wrist injury at Torrey Pines and has not played since.

That has made the Englishman a major doubt for the Ryder Cup team in September and Harrington is also currently outside the automatic qualifying places for Nick Faldo’s side which will defend the trophy at Valhalla.

Harrington’s injury reminded everyone, not that any reminder was necessary, of Woods’ absence from Birkdale, the first time the American has missed a major since the 1996 USPGA.

Woods has still been a major topic of conversation with claims that Sunday’s winner will be devalued by the absence of the 14-time major victor.

Not according to all the players looking to capitalise, who all seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet.

“I think we should be talking about the tournament and not somebody that’s not here,” said Lee Westwood, joint favourite here with Woods 10 years ago and now well fancied again after coming so close at the US Open.

“As far as I’m concerned it’s the biggest tournament in the world. It’s bigger than any one golfer really.”

Sergio Garcia, beaten in a play-off by Harrington at Carnoustie 12 months ago, added: “With all due respect, the Open is bigger than any of us, even Tiger Woods.

“If I manage to win this week, I’m not going to go ’Oh, I won the Open but Tiger wasn’t there.’ I still have the Claret Jug, which is the most important thing.”

Following his victory in the Players’ Championship in May – often described as the ’fifth major’ – and a brilliant final-round 66 in the European Open the week before last in poor conditions, Garcia is favourite to finally win his first major.

The Spaniard has 13 top-10 finishes in major championships with six of those coming in the Open in the last seven years.

Of the current crop only Els can boast a similarly impressive record, with victory at Muirfield in 2002 and nine other top-10s, including third at Hoylake in 2006 and fourth at Carnoustie 12 months ago.

The South African describes his game as “a little dicey” recently but quietly finished joint ninth at Loch Lomond on Sunday and is well equipped to deal with the blustery wind and rain forecast for the rest of the week.

“That’s going to be a big factor this week,” admitted the world number five.

“The course itself is not too long (par 70, 7,173 yards), but the rough is up and it’s like every major, they toughen it up a little bit more than any other tournament.”

Yorkshire’s Simon Dyson – in the first group out tomorrow at 6:30am – reported needing to hit a driver and three wood to reach the 499-yard par-four sixth yesterday, with several other par fours reachable with a driver and 2-iron.

The condition of the course has been universally praised however, with the only gripe being the new 17th green with its numerous large undulations, out of character with the rest of the layout.

“All of a sudden you walk on the 17th and you go ’Who designed this?”’ admitted Graeme McDowell, winner of the Scottish Open on Sunday. “It’s going to offer up some drama, no doubt about it.”