Two-time Open champ Padraig Harrington undergoes neck surgery

The Irishman with two Open Championships will try to be ready for the 2017 version

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.

Sorry I'm missing out on honouring Arnold Palmer's legacy at the @APinv this week.But I'm going to have neck surgery on a trapped nerve.

— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) March 14, 2017

Having surgery on a trapped nerve between C6and C7. Looks like I'll be out for 8 to 10 weeks.Targeting a comeback at the Memorial in May

— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) March 14, 2017

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.

“Everything is up in the air for the next week or so, Harrington said a few weeks ago. “The really frustrating thing for me is that I hit the ball great on Friday and know that it is a case of working on my wedges and short game to improve my scoring, but for the moment I can’t do anything.”

Harrington has missed four of five cuts and finished T39 at the Genesis Open in February.