Padraig Harrington won The Open Championship last time it was played at Royal Birkdale in 2008. It was his second straight Open and first of two straight major championship wins. There is a fear Harrington may not be able to play in the 2017 Open, back at Birkdale for the first time since Harrington took down Ian Poulter.
Harrington said on Twitter on Tuesday that he will undergo neck surgery in hopes that he will be able to make it back for The Open in July.
This decision for Harrington had been looming. Harrington wrote on Facebook a few weeks ago that he wanted to avoid surgery, so he would be able to play at Birkdale.