Golf: Harrington gets disqualified in Abu Dhabi

THREE-TIME major winner Padraig Harrington was disqualified from the Abu Dhabi Championship today after the Irishman became the latest player to fall foul of golf's rules.

Lying second overnight after an opening 65, the Dubliner made a premature exit from his first event of the year after it was discovered that his ball had moved on the seventh green in the opening round.

Harrington had been unaware of the incident at the time but had no complaints about his fate after joining Ian Poulter and Camillo Villegas among the players who have been penalised over unwitting rule infringements over the past few months.

Poulter was penalised after his marker moved when dropping his ball on to it during the final round of the Dubai World Championship in Dubai.

And, just a fortnight ago in Hawaii, Colombian Villegas was disqualified from the Hyundai Championship after he was reported by a TV viewer after casually swatting away some loose pieces of grass in front of the divot as his ball was still moving down the slope.

Lothians star Stephen Gallacher returned to the course first thing this morning to complete his first round, picking up a birdie at the last for a 74.