Harrington disqualified for moving ball at Abu Dhabi tournament

Pádraig Harrington has been disqualified from a tournament that he was in with a chance of winning for a second time in his career.

Harrington did not tee-off in the second round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after tournament officials were flagged about a misdemeanor by the Irish player on the seventh green during his opening round.

The Dubliner was one shot off the lead overnight after a 65 yesterday but television replays showed Harrington's hand brushing the back of his ball as he replaced it in front of his marker on the seventh green.

The ball rocked forward and although Harrington thought at the time that it then returned to its original position, television slow-motion showed that it did not go all the way back.

He was disqualified after a 30-minute review of the incident with European Tour senior referee Andy McFee.

The disqualification will bring back unwelcome memories of the Benson and Hedges International at the Belfry eleven years ago when he was five shots ahead with a round to go, but it was then discovered that he had not signed his first day scorecard.