A reoccurrence of a knee injury has forced triple Major winning Padraig Harrington out of next week’s flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Harrington picked up the injury in his right knee during the recent Well Fargo Championship in North Carolina but it became more troublesome at last week’s Players Championship in Florida.

He complained of ‘stabbing pain’ during practice and ahead of a first round 73 at TPC Sawgrass before hobbling off on day two to miss the cut with a second round 78 for a seven-over par tally.

But after further physio attention on what was a hamstring tear Harrington has now been diagnosed with an inflamed popliteus muscle.

Harrington had undergone surgery on ligament damage to his right knee some 12 months ago.

Now Harrington is complaining of continued acute pain and an inability to stabilise the knee.

The Dubliner has been advised the only cure is rest so reluctantly Harrington has advised European Tour officials of his withdrawal from the Euro 4.5m event in Surrey.

Last year, Harrington ended a two-year absence from the event to finish sixth for an equal best finish in 11 appearances. next week’s BMW PGA Championship