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Padraig Harrington withdraws after father's death

Ireland's Padraig Harrington pulled out of the British Open on Tuesday following the death of his father, organisers said.

Harrington's father Patrick, a former policeman, had been suffering from cancer of the oesophagus.

He was diagnosed in March, one week after his son became the first Irish player to win a PGA Tour title at the Honda Classic in Florida.

Harrington, ranked ninth in the world, skipped last week's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond after his father's condition worsened.

Henrik Stenson of Sweden, at world number 78 the highest ranked player not already exempt, will take Harrington's place in the 156-strong field at St Andrews.

Ryder Cup player Harrington, who clinched his second PGA Tour victory by holing a 65-foot eagle putt on the final hole of last month's Barclays Classic, was among the favourites for this week's major.

The 33-year-old from Dublin triumphed by six shots in a strong field at the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am in Ireland last week and is an experienced links course golfer in windy conditions.

He has produced two top-10 finishes in nine British Open starts, and tied for 20th when the championship was last held at St Andrews in 2000.

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