Pádraig Harington says he feared for his professional career after suffering an elbow injury which has ruled him out of this weekend’s St Jude Classic.
The 45-year-old revealed that an elbow injury suffered while coaching an amateur had him fearing the worst, but will only be out of action for less than two weeks.
Harrington has played just seven events in 2017 after undergoing surgery on a trapped nerve in his neck in March, but had been due to play his third tournament in succession in Memphis.
"Yesterday I picked up an elbow injury at a golf outing in Washington DC," the three-time major winner wrote on his personal website.
"Whilst coaching an amateur golfer on how to cure his hook, I stepped in close to demonstrate the action for a fade, but as I was stepping away he continued to swing and caught me flush on the elbow.
"My initial thought was that the elbow was shattered and it was the end to my competitive playing career. I nearly fainted with the pain and shock.
"I applied ice to the elbow within seconds and also compressed it to minimise any inflammation. After an X-ray at the hospital I was delighted to learn that it wasn't broken, but it still required 6 deep stitches.
"I have been advised to be cautious and it will need 10-12 days for the stitches to heal, so I have been forced to withdraw from this week's FedEx St Jude Classic tournament in Memphis."
Harrington also made light of the unfortunate injury on Twitter.
There's no truth in the rumour that it was the amateur's best strike of the day @fesjcmemphis @PGATOUR
— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) June 6, 2017
The Dubliner failed to secure a place in next week's US Open via the 36-hole qualifier at Walton Heath last week.
