Harrington to have scan on injured ankle

Padraig Harrington, who celebrated his 31st birthday in the BMW International Open today, will undergo a scan on his injured …

Padraig Harrington, who celebrated his 31st birthday in the BMW International Open today, will undergo a scan on his injured ankle next week.

Harrington has been struggling with neck and ankle problems in recent weeks and has been receiving up to two hours of physio a day.

But the Dubliner insists he will not be another injury worry for European captain Sam Torrance ahead of the Ryder Cup at the Belfry in four weeks' time.

"I will probably get some scans when I get home to Dublin," said Harrington, who is not playing in next week's European Masters in Switzerland.

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"I was struggling badly before I went out. I would have loved to have shot a good score but after the way I was hitting it on the range this morning I did marvellously well to shoot four under.

"I was hitting some wild, wild shots. I think I've hit 10 of the worst shots of the last three years in the last three days."

Harrington, whose four under 68 left him eight under for the tournament and out of contention for the Stg£191,000 first prize, will undergo the scans before seeing coach Bob Torrance later in the week to discover what swing problems the injury is causing.

"It will take Bob five seconds to tell me what's going wrong with the swing and then we can find out what's causing it," added Harrington, who is likely to be paired with World Cup winning partner Paul McGinley at the Belfry.

"Most likely I have picked up a bad habit in the last three weeks because I've been playing with the injuries."

Harrington's left ankle is strapped up but he can move it without causing pain and had already stressed earlier this week: "I'm definitely not an injury worry for four weeks' time.

"It is a niggling injury. It is upsetting my swing more than the injury itself. It is more the effect it is having on my timing that is putting me off.

"It is a mental thing, the ankle, and my shoulder just needs strengthening to avoid pulling out my neck."