McIlroy stunned by Harrington dip

BMW International Open, Munich
Dates: 25-28 June
Coverage: Updates and reports on BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website. Live on Sky Sports 1

In-form Rory McIlroy has expressed his shock at fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington's slump this season.

Harrington, who retained his Open title last season and followed that up with the USPGA crown, has missed five out of the last six cuts.

"I think everyone is surprised," said the 20-year-old, who competes at the BMW International Open on Thursday.

"A three-time major winner then to have a poor run, it would not surprise me if he turned it around for the Open."

Harrington has opted to take a short break before starting the run-up to the defence of his Open crown at next week's French Open.

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The 37-year-old's fall in form is highlighted by his statistics for this season.

In Europe, he ranks 188th in driving accuracy, 133rd in driving distance and 147th in greens in regulation. Across the Atlantic, he is 173rd, 124th and 176th in the same three categories.

"Obviously Padraig has looked at his game at the end of the year and has seen a few things that he wanted to change or improve," added McIlroy, who finished 10th on his US Open debut last weekend.

"He has tried to do that and it has not quite worked.

"I've played a couple of practice rounds with him, but you don't really know from that. Whenever you have a card in your hand it becomes completely different."

McIlroy is looking forward to playing with German golfing legend Bernhard Langer in the first two rounds in Munich this week.

"He obviously still has the game to compete and I think it will be a great experience for me. Hopefully I might pick up something from him," he added.

Swede Henrik Stenson, ninth on Monday at Bethpage and world number five, is the highest-ranked player in a field that also includes American John Daly, South African Retief Goosen, England's Luke Donald and Colin Montgomerie of Scotland.

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