Harrington out of Irish PGA

Rather than risk further damage to an ankle ligament injury, Padraig Harrington has been forced to withdraw from the Smurfit Irish PGA championship which gets under way at Westport on Thursday, Philip Reid reports

Indeed, there is the risk that Ireland's two top-ranked players will miss the €137,000 event - the biggest national closed tournament in Europe - as Darren Clarke is receiving treatment on a knee injury and won't make a final decision on his participation until after he receives further physiotherapy but he, too, is extremely doubtful.

Harrington's injury is related to ligament damage in his foot. Although he played all five matches in the Seve Trophy at Druids Glen, and emerged with a record of four wins from five matches, the Dubliner was strongly advised by his physiotherapist not to play this week or next as there was a real fear that the injury could worsen.

"I'm really sorry to miss out," said Harrington. "I was looking forward to going head-to-head with Paul (McGinley) and Darren while also keeping an eye on Des (Smyth), who is the championship specialist. However, when I visited the physiotherapist, I was told that the longer I went without rest and treatment, then the more likely it was to be a major problem in the future. It's a risk that I simply can't take."

Harrington's hope is to undergo two weeks of treatment and then to be back playing for the Benson and Hedges International at The Belfry, which takes place on May 9th-12th, a tournament which starts a demanding schedule that also takes in the Deutsche Bank TPC of Europe in Germany and the Volvo PGA at Wentworth.

Clarke, who has been affected by a knee injury he sustained in Augusta, won't make a decision until he pays a second visit to the physiotherapist later today, but the omens don't look good. The Ulsterman returned to his Sunningdale home on Sunday night and was treated by his physio yesterday. A second appointment has been booked for later today.

"At the moment, Darren is playing," said his manager Andrew Chandler, "but he can't make a final decision until he sees the physio again. A decision like this is made doubly hard for Darren because the tournament is in Ireland and he really wants to play. If it was anywhere else, he wouldn't play."

Clarke, who is now ranked 13th in the official world rankings, sustained the knee injury during the Masters where the undulating terrain and soft surfaces were not conducive to walking.

He played five matches in the Seve Trophy with the aid of physiotherapy and heavy strapping and, afterwards quipped that "maybe it is time I go home and clean the dust off Paul's gym equipment," a reference to the fact that he shares a garage converted into a gym with his neighbour Paul McGinley.

If injuries prevent both Harrington and Clarke from playing, then McGinley - 38th in the latest rankings - will head the field for the Irish PGA where Des Smyth, who won the title for a record sixth time at Castlerock last October, will be the defending champion. Eamonn Darcy has passed up the chance to play in this week's Spanish Open - where he was eligible to play as a past champion - in order to play in Westport. Smyth has a unique record in the championship.

His six titles span four decades, the first coming in 1979. His other victories have been in 1985, 1986, 1990, 1996 and 2001.

It's a touch ironic that Harrington and probably Clarke will be forced to miss the championship at this time of year, considering that it was moved forward from its traditional October date to April to facilitate their participation.

Meanwhile, the Seve Trophy is likely to move to non-Ryder Cup years in the future. Britain and Ireland captain Colin Montgomerie admitted, "having two events like the Seve Trophy and the Ryder Cup in the one year is tough. Now the Ryder Cup has switched years, I think this should follow and go to odd years because this competition is proving that it can stand on its own two feet."

If the event is to grow and prosper, however, it is imperative that it gain a proper home and away structure with matches alternating between either Britain and Ireland and continental Europe. The first two matches (Sunningdale two years ago and Druids Glen this year) were staged in Britain and Ireland, and the move to odd years - it is expected that the event will be staged next year, although later in the season - should see it being held on the continent for the first time. France, Sweden, Spain and Portugal have all been mooted as possible venues.

A quick return to Ireland, however, is unlikely. The event at Druids Glen was excellent except for one thing, the weather; and that is out of the hands of everyone. However, Bord Fáilte, who were the prime backers, will be hoping that the weather for further events in the country later this year is more appetising for potential golf tourists, who generate in excess of €150 million each year for the economy.