GOLF DIGEST:EUROPEAN TOUR: Pádraig Harrington is out of next week's PGA Championship at Wentworth because of a knee injury.

The former double British Open and US PGA champion said on his website: “I originally picked up a knee injury during the Wells Fargo Championship, which then got worse during last week’s Players Championship.

“After returning home I continued to have physio on what was originally a hamstring tear, which caused the popliteus muscle to become inflamed.

“This resulted in the inability to stabilise my knee, causing acute pain. As it hasn’t improved significantly and the recommended course of action is a couple of weeks rest, reluctantly, I am forced to withdraw from next week’s PGA Championship.”

EUROPEAN TOUR:Simon Thornton shot a one-under-par 71 to lead the Irish challenge after the first round of the Madeira Islands Open yesterday.

It was a round that could have been much better but for dropped shots at the third and sixth holes, both par fives at Porto Santo Golfe.

That left Thornton four adrift of England’s Chris Gane.

Michael Hoey and Colm Moriarty finished on level par.

SENIORS TOUR:Des Smyth followed an opening 68 with a one-over 72 to be in a share of 10th on two under after the second round of the Open de Espana at El Valle Golf Resort.

England’s Carl Mason leads on 10 under after a seven-birdie 65.

Eamonn Darcy also shot a 72 to be one over, while Denis O’Sullivan was a shot back after a second 72.

Jimmy Heggarty slipped to a 74 to be two over, while Pat Errity crashed to a nine-over 80 and Eddie Polland shot 84.

LET TOUR:Wales' Becky Morgan shot a seven-under-par 65 to top the leaderboard after the opening round of the German Open in Munich.

Morgan carded seven birdies in a flawless round, including three in her last four holes, to sit one shot clear of Virginie Lagoutte-Clement of France and Italy’s Margherita Rigon.

Ireland’s Rebecca Codd and Martina Gillen opened up with one-over 73s.