Padraig to go under the knife

Padraig Harrington is going into hospital for a knee operation after this week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The surgery has been planned so that the three-time major champion recovers in time for the US Open at Pebble Beach in four weeks.

Harrington said: "I wanted to get the opinion of my doctor on a knee injury I picked up whilst playing football at Christmas.

"After two MRIs and a second consultation, my doctor has advised having a minor procedure in the very near future to prevent the issue developing.

"I will have the operation on Tuesday and will return for the St Jude Classic."

That is in Memphis the week after next and further weakens the field for the Wales Open, where European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie had hoped to watch all his candidates in action.

Most of his stars will now be elsewhere as it clashes with The Memorial tournament at Muirfield Village in Ohio.

Harrington added: "If I wait until the end of the year, the doctor feels it could cause some arthritic problems. If I can have it cleared up now it reduces the chance.

"So it's just a precautionary thing. Plus it's my right knee, so I'm not so dependent on it playing golf.

"I can't really do much about it. This is something that's affecting my career if I don't get it done. In fairness to the doctor, he would have done it before The Masters if it was up to him."