Padraig Harrington has revealed that he is seriously concerned about a wrist injury ahead of the Murphy's Irish Open this week.
The 29-year-old Dubliner - winner of the Irish amateur strokeplay title at this week's venue, Fota Island, in 1995 - spent last weekend working with coach Bob Torrance, father of Ryder Cup captain Sam.
But on his return home the pain developed and having treatment on it served only to make it worse.
"The physio might have done it good in the long term, but it's inflamed it and it might have been better left alone in the short term," said Harrington.
"Hopefully it will ease off, but it's never bothered me as much as it bothered me last evening.
"I did it playing my last-ever game of Gaelic football at school when I was 17. I was marking a very talented centre forward and in the first two seconds he turned me and I slipped over and fell on it.
"I said at the PGA championship last month [when suffering a neck trouble] that I would never again play with an injury," Harrington said.
"But because it's the Irish Open I will probably go back on my word. I'd say there's only a 5 per cent chance of me pulling out."
PA