Harrington handicapped in
defence of Open title

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Tiger Woods has shown it is possible to win a major while injured - now it is Padraig Harrington's turn in the defence of his Open title.
While Woods' knee injury keeps him from competing at Royal Birkdale, Harrington is determined to tee it up in the first round despite suffering a wrist injury on Saturday.
"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," the Irishman admitted. "If it wasn't the Open I would have pulled out. 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."
Of course Harrington is well aware that Woods won the US Open last month effectively on one leg, but the world number one is now out for the rest of the year while Luke Donald picked up a wrist injury at Torrey Pines and has not played since.
That has made the Englishman a major doubt for the Ryder Cup team in September and Harrington is also currently outside the automatic qualifying places for Nick Faldo's side which will defend the trophy at Valhalla.
Harrington's injury reminded everyone, not that any reminder was necessary, of Woods' absence from Birkdale, the first time the American has missed a major since the 1996 USPGA.
Woods has still been a major topic of conversation with claims that Sunday's winner will be devalued by the absence of the 14-time major victor.
Not according to all the players looking to capitalise, who all seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet.
"I think we should be talking about the tournament and not somebody that's not here," said Lee Westwood, joint favourite here with Woods 10 years ago and now well fancied again after coming so close at the US Open.
"As far as I'm concerned it's the biggest tournament in the world. It's bigger than any one golfer really."