By Bernie McGuire
VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 21 (Reuters) - Padraig Harrington's chances of competing in next month's U.S. Open have diminished after a shoulder problem forced him to pull out of the BMW PGA Championship on the third hole on Thursday.
The triple major winner picked up the injury while working in the gym earlier this week.
The 43-year-old Irishman started the first round with a bogey and a par and decided to withdraw after playing a shot out of the rough at the third.
"My shoulder improved quite a bit overnight," Harrington told reporters.