Garcia Fancied While Harrington Waits On Injury

Spain’s Sergio Garcia has emerged as the favourite to win the Open as defending champion Padraig Harrington ponders pulling out of the tournament at Royal Birkdale because of injury.

In the absence of Tiger Woods, Garcia was the choice of most golf experts and writers in a BBC survey, with Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Argentina’s Angel Cabrera and England’s Lee Westwood also being backed.

Harrington, meanwhile, said he was 75 per cent hopeful of teeing off on Thursday but only 50 per cent sure that he would be able to last the four days at what is expected to be a wind-battered course.

The Irishman had to abort a practice round because of pain in his wrist, returning later to the green to practice his putting. He said he will wait until the last minute before making any decision. The BBC website quoted him as saying:

“My plan is to warm up and see what it’s like on Thursday. I’m happy with the fact it has stabilised and the strength has improved but I was hoping it would have disappeared by now. The decision will be mine. I can’t say anything at the moment other than I’ll be making a strenuous effort. I will be apprehensive about hitting any shot. I’ll certainly be apprehensive about hitting out of the rough.”

He also added that the kind of injury he has would definitely make him withdraw without hesitation from any other tournament.

Given these comments, even if he manages to play all four rounds, it probably rules him out as being among the favourites for the title – though the memory of an injured Woods winning at the US Open is still fresh in our minds.

Garcia, beaten by Harrington in a play-off at last year’s Open, earlier said that he is playing as well as he has ever done in his career and is ready to have a real go at winning his first major title.


One Response to “Garcia Fancied While Harrington Waits On Injury”

  1. Yvonne says:

    :shock::???:
    What didi Padraig do exactly to injury himself???

    This year’s Open is going to be a sizzler!!

    Regards
    Yvonne

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