Harrington asked to explain Australian Open absence
Padraig Harrington will be asked to explain his decision to play in Europe last week only days after pulling out of next week's Australian Open.
Harrington told Open organisers early last week he would be a late withdrawal from the event at Kingston Heath for "family reasons" and the Australian Golf Union issued a media release saying the European Number Seven would not be playing in Melbourne or "in anything else this year".
After pulling out of the Open, at which he was to have been a major drawcard, Harrington teed up in the European season-ending American Express Championship in Valderrama, Spain.
He finished in a tie for fifth with Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia and Nick Price behind winner Mike Weir of Canada.
AGU executive director Colin Phillips said he was surprised and disappointed at Harrington's decision.
"I asked for an explanation from his managers, International Management Group, as soon as I saw he was playing in Spain last week," Phillips said.
"We were prepared to pay a fair amount for him to play in the Open and it's obviously very disappointing."
While Harrington will be missing, the $1.25million Open can still boast five-times champion Greg Norman and multiple major winners Nick Faldo and Mark O'Meara.
In-form home-town favourites Robert Allenby - twice a winner in the US this year - and Stuart Appleby will head the local challenge with defending champion Aaron Baddeley.
