Seve Trophy: Open champion Padraig Harrington has pulled out of next week's Seve Trophy at the Heritage in Co Laois,  citing fatigue and injuries.

Harrington, who has previously stated he plays too much but finds it difficult to manage his schedule, was the top-ranked player in the event in which Britain and Ireland play a side from continental Europe.

The Dubliner's withdrawal means it is likely there will be precious little for Irish fans to get excited about at the Ballesteros designed course. Unless captain Nick Faldo chooses to include the likes of Darren Clarke or Paul McGinley among his wildcards there will be no Irish player in the event.

The captains' picks will be announced at 11am tomorrow morning but there will be no call-ups for Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood who have all already declined to take part.

"I'm afraid that I have been forced to withdraw from The Seve Trophy because of fatigue and injuries relating to this condition," explained Harrington, ahead of the September 27th-30th match play tournament in Killenard.

"In view of this, I have been advised by my trainer and physio to take a two-week break from tournament golf immediately. This is a decision I have not taken lightly, as I don't want to let down the GB and Ireland team and, most importantly, the Irish golf fans.

"I wish the team the best of luck."

Harrington, who became the first European to win a major for 12 years with his victory at Carnoustie in July, finished 11th in the Tour Championship in Atlanta at the weekend.

England's Ian Poulter would have been the next in line from the world rankings list to take Harrington's place but he is getting married that week.

Therefore Welshman Bradley Dredge now qualifies via his world ranking which means his spot on the European points list goes to Nick Dougherty, who initially missed out on the final spot at the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne yesterday.

Britain and Ireland

Colin Montgomerie (Scot)                             
Justin Rose  (Eng)                                         
Paul Casey  (Eng)                                          
Bradley Dredge (Wal)                                    
Graeme Storm  (Eng)                                     
Oliver Wilson  (Eng)                                       
Nick Dougherty  (Eng)                                    
Phillip Archer (Eng)

Continental Europe

Robert Karlsson  (Swe)
Miguel Angel Jiménez  (Sp)
Raphaël Jacquelin  (Fra)
Mikko Ilonen  (Fin)
Søren Hansen  (Den)
Grégory Havret  (Fra)
Markus Brier (Aus)
Peter Hanson  (Swe)