Harrington to miss PGA Championship with knee injury

LONDON (Reuters): Padraig Harrington will miss next week’s PGA Championship at Wentworth after aggravating a knee injury, the three-times major champion said on Thursday.

The Irishman originally hurt his knee during the Wells Fargo tournament earlier this month and the problem flared up again at last week’s Players Championship in Florida.

“After returning home I continued to have physio on what was originally a hamstring tear, which caused the popliteus muscle to become inflamed,” Harrington, who has slumped to 43 in the world rankings, said on his website (www.padraigharrington.com).

“This resulted in the inability to stabilise my knee, causing acute pain. As it hasn’t improved significantly, and the recommended course of action is a couple of weeks rest, reluctantly, I am forced to withdraw from next week’s PGA Championship.”

The PGA Championship, seen as the European Tour’s flagship event, will feature six of the world’s current top 10 players.