Injury leaves Harrington struggling to defend crown

Already there are whispers in the dunes here of "the doomed Open". Golf's most prestigious event has already lost its best player, Tiger Woods, and now the hopes of the defending champion Padraig Harrington have been all but shattered.

If the Irishman is to become the first European to win back-to-back Opens in more than 100 years, he will have to replicate what Woods achieved at the US Open last month: victory in spite of an injury that should really have forced him to stay at home.

Harrington revealed last night that he strained his right wrist so badly during an indoor practice session on Saturday evening that he has been unable to play from the rough since. He managed to play only nine holes here yesterday instead of an anticipated 18, and until he forces himself to play from the thick stuff today – when his swollen hand will be under greater strain than for any other shot – he will not know how capable he is of playing effectively.

"If it wasn't the Open I would have pulled out [already]," he said. "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."

The 36-year-old Dubliner is scheduled to begin the defence of the title he won at Carnoustie a year ago at 7.58am tomorrow, alongside South Africa's Retief Goosen and Justin Leonard of the US. Even if he requires large amounts of anti-inflammatories and painkillers to make it to the tee, he expects to be there. Less certain is whether he will be able to do himself justice.

There are also concerns over what further damage he might do by playing when injured. Any exacerbation of the existing problem will throw fresh doubt on his participation in September's Ryder Cup at Valhalla.

Woods is already out of that event because he is recovering from recontructive surgery to his anterior cruciate ligament, and from two stress fractures to his left leg. He won the US Open at Torrey Pines last month with those ailments, doubling over in agony on many occasions, and in the opinion of many medical experts could only have made them worse in the process.

In all likelihood, Britain's Luke Donald will miss the Ryder Cup too, with a wrist injury that was sustained the same week and has ruled him out of the Open.

Ironically, three of the roadside advertising hoardings for the Open on the main approach route from the M6 to the course, feature huge photographs, in sequence, of Woods, Donald and then Harrington.

"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," Harrington said. "That will certainly be an issue."

Yesterday's nine holes were played without serious ill effects, although Harrington kicked rather than played the ball out of rough on to the fairway. "I'm taking anti-inflammatories as it is and I will probably protect the wrist in the tournament," he said. "I didn't today because I wanted to see how it was... It's inflamed, but I was pain-free for those nine holes. When I went to the range I had no idea what was ahead and that was more nerve-racking. On the course I was fearful and very worried at first, but it was fine, although I had a fuzzy, tingly feeling and I felt it [hurt, when] pushing a tee in the ground a couple of times."

Harrington took the rest of the day off on the advice of his sports chiropractor Dale Richardson. If all goes well, he will play a full round today and hit at least one shot from the rough.

The injury happened at Harrington's home, a few hours after his successful defence of the Irish PGA Championship. He was swinging his driver into an "impact ball" – a swing aid – when he "felt something" in his wrist. He says he has never experienced an injury of this type before. "On Sunday I couldn't lift a club even to chip. It was a serious concern then because I couldn't go and test it. I couldn't see if it was better or worse."

A fortnight ago at the European Open in Kent, Harrington could hardly turn his head because of a neck problem, although it eased as the competition went on.

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