Injury hinders Harrington's Masters display

Padraig Harrington was expected back for the second round of The Masters today despite neck trouble and a 77 start that matched his worst-ever round at Augusta.

“It’s tough when you can’t hit the shots,” said the three-time major winner.

“It’s very disappointing. I prepared very well, I was in good form, but it was not to be – such is life.

“I nearly pulled out before I started, but I wouldn’t – that’s just my nature.

“And, knowing me, I would never fail to finish. I take some pride in that.”

Harrington has had similar trouble in the past and added: “I always have to be wary.

“I was swinging the left-handed shot, just warming up and it just kind of clicked. I’m not able to move to my right.

“It’s always going to happen sometimes. I would love to tell you that there’s more I could do – aside from cutting my head off!

“I didn’t get a warm-up really at all. I spent about two minutes on the putting green because I had to get treatment.

“I didn’t take any pain killers. I was hoping it would go away, but it actually got worse on the course – maybe I should have. It didn’t cross my mind.”

There were other Europeans who fared worse, though.

World number one Martin Kaymer had a 78 like 1991 winner Ian Woosnam and for the German that probably means a fourth missed cut in four Masters starts. He is planning to speak to two-time winner Bernhard Langer about it.

But even worse than Kaymer was Swede Henrik Stenson with an 83 that contained a quintuple bogey eight at the short fourth.

The 74s of US Open champion Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter and debutant Martin Laird were stellar by comparison, but they are all involved in a battle to survive the cut now.

McDowell, playing with Tiger Woods, had four three-putts in six holes after turning in 35, while Poulter dropped four shots in the last four holes and Laird, a US Tour winner a fortnight ago, played the last six in two under to repair at least some of the earlier damage.