Padraig Harrington's Open dream was ended by the recurrence of a neck injury as the popular Irishman missed the cut despite shooting level par at Royal Troon.

It was his first-round 77, five over par, which proved his undoing but Harrington was restricted by the injury as he battled bravely to make the cut.

"I had a lot of work to do after yesterday and I played quite well on the front nine, but on the 10th hole I hit a three wood and my neck went, and I didn't seem to be able to hit a shot after that," explained Harrington.

"I struggled all the way home hitting the ball. I wasn't turning properly which meant I was using just my hands and arms rather than coiling my body and that led to a lot of erratic shots as I didn't have much control of the ball.

"It is the same problem I have had for years, it just goes at the odd time of the year, and it is just a question of working on it and trying to keep on top of it, I am not that worried.

"I had treatment on it today but when I hit that three wood on the 10th I jarred it a little bit and it nagged me all the way home."

Harrington was on four over as he stood on the 18th tee and heard that he would need a birdie in order to make the cut, so he took a driver rather than an iron. However, he drove into a bunker and never recovered, dropping another shot in the end.

The encouraging news for Irish golf fans is that their hero expects to be able to compete in next week's Irish Open.

"It won't keep me from playing next week," he said.

"It is not like I am in pain and I could go out and play another 18 holes now - although I don't know how well I would play.

"I might be fine tomorrow. Maybe I need to rest it for a while, who knows, but I am not going to rest."