Padraig Harrington has been ruled out of the opening events of 2019 as the three-time major winner recovers from a broken wrist.
The Dubliner revealed on social media that he had hurt his wrist, following a slip, in mid-December, which he initially presumed was a sprain.
The 2007 and 2008 Open champion later discovered that there was a break in one of the bones of his wrist, which now requires a splint to aid recovery.
A simple slip and sprained wrist mid- December has turned out to be a broken bone in my wrist. A few extra weeks off is now needed in a splint.If only practicing your putting all winter would make your a better putter.@EuropeanTour @PGATOUR
— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) January 3, 2019
Harrington was set to play two events in January, the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, but is now targetting a February return at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am on the PGA Tour.
"Over the Christmas period I discovered that I had broken a bone in my wrist. I had slipped whilst walking down the stairs at home in mid-December," revealed Harrington on his website.
"Whilst it continues to heal, I need to keep it in a splint a little while longer so, frustratingly, I will need to miss the first two planned events of my season in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
"However, I should be fully fit for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am on the PGA Tour in early February."
Best on a Tour 🥇
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) December 27, 2018
Did you know that @Padraig_H led the Tour in scrambling in 2018, making par or better nearly two thirds of the time he missed a green. pic.twitter.com/bMHc1W5Sem
