Ireland’’s Padraig Harrington has pulled out of The Open Championship at St Andrews following the death of his father.
Harrington’’s dad Patrick, a former policeman, had been suffering from cancer of the oesophagus.
He was diagnosed in March, one week after his son became the first Irish player to win a US PGA Tour title at the Honda Classic in Florida.
Harrington, ranked ninth in the world, missed The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond after his father’’s condition worsened.
Sweden’’s Henrik Stenson, at World Number 78 the highest ranked player not already exempt, will take Harrington’’s place in the 156-strong field at St Andrews.
Other changes to the entry list have seen England’’s Brian Davis come in for his injured compatriot David Howell, German Bernhard Langer replace Japan’’s Shingo Katayama and Swede Fredrik Jacobson take the spot relinquished by the injured American Jay Haas.
Davis was packed and ready to travel to the United States for the BC Open in New York when he took the call saying that Howell had withdrawn and he was in line for his sixth appearance in The Open.
“I am ecstatic. It is a very special venue. It does not get much better than the Open at St Andrews,” said the 30 year old, whose best finish in Britain’’s Major was tied sixth in 2003.
Davis fired a course record-equalling 62 in the 2003 dunhill links championship over the Old Course and feels confident he has the game to suit the famous fairways. “I have played there a lot and have a good record, so hopefully that will work for me,” he added.
