Seven years ago Padraig Harrington suffered a wrist injury that seemed almost certain to derail his defence of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Now the golf world waits to know whether an injured World No. 1 Rory McIlroy will tee-up next week at St. Andrews to defend the famed Claret Jug.
While Harrington’s injury was to his wrist, he’s offered a little ray of hope McIlroy’s ankle could be strong enough this time next week to play four rounds of the Old Course.
“I’ve read the same reports as everyone else has and I really know nothing more than that, and if it’s at the wrong end of the scale, it could be a number of weeks,” said Harrington.
Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy and Europe Celebrate after winning the Ryder Cup in Mondays Singles at the 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor, Newport, Wales, 4th October 2010..Picture Manus O’Reilly/www.golffile.ie
“If it’s at the right end of the scale, it could be cleared up pretty quickly.
‘It happened on Saturday, so up to Thursday next week that’s 12 days and that’s a reasonable amount of time.
“In 2008, I injured myself five days before the Open but by the time I got to play the sixth hole on the Thursday when I first put my wrist under any pressure it was fine.”
However Harrington’s biggest concern is the fact McIlroy injured his left leg, the leg for a right handed that’s so pivotal in the execution of a golf swing.
“The biggest issue, one that not too many people have picked up on, is that it’s his left ankle and that’s a big problem,” added Harrington.
“I did the same thing in ’91. I was still an amateur at the time and didn’t get it treated quickly enough or properly. And still to this day … ah, maybe the last couple of years have been fine.
World Number One, Rory McIlroy (NIR) with Three-time Major Winner Padraig Harrington (IRL) during the “Meet the Players” Press Conference and Photo Call held at the Pearl on the Peak, The Peak Tower, Hong Kong ahead of the UBS Hong Kong Open 2012, Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, Hong Kong. 13/11/12…(Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ie)
“But the left side is the problem side. I’ve had many injuries since then but I’ve had great initial treatment. That’s the most important thing.
“You can play golf with a bad right ankle without too much trouble. But it’s difficult putting weight on your left side.
“The great thing is that he doesn’t need to turn up at the Old Course and play a load of practice rounds. Nobody needs that.
“And of all the Major Championship venues we play at, that’s probably the one where you can almost just turn up and play.
“The Masters is like that too. If you turn up and get the pace of the greens, hit a few chip shots, there is nothing tee to green you are going to learn on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
“That’s especially true at St Andrews, where it only becomes a little different with a slight change of wind so Rory doesn’t even need to play one practice round”.
