Family ties rule Harrington out of Irish PGA

Padraig Harrington has withdrawn from this week's Smurfit Irish PGA Championship after the birth of his first child last week…

Padraig Harrington has withdrawn from this week's Smurfit Irish PGA Championship after the birth of his first child last week.

The world number nine was due to make a rare appearance at the event but has changed his mind in order to spend more time with wife Caroline and son Patrick Daniel.

In the Dubliner's absence his Ryder Cup teammate Paul McGinley, the defending champion, heads the field in Co Limerick. McGinley won the Irish PGA's signature event for the third time when the championship was contested in terrible conditions at Westport last year.

Harrington, meanwhile, will make his next appearance on the European Tour when he defends his Dunhill Links Championship title in Scotland at the end of September.