Pádraig Harrington closed with a 4-under 66 at Scioto Country Club on Sunday to win the US Senior Open by four shots over Stewart Cink, claiming his third title in the event and tying Miller Barber for the most in championship history.
The victory was Harrington’s fourth senior major and his 12th PGA Tour Champions win. It also ended Cink’s bid to become the first player to win the first three senior majors in a single season, after the 53-year-old had taken the Senior PGA Championship and the Regions Tradition earlier in 2026.
Early separation
Harrington entered the final round one stroke behind Cink but seized control within the first three holes. He made a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 first to draw level, then watched his approach on the second finish inside 3 feet for another birdie while Cink made bogey. The five-shot swing across the opening stretch gave Harrington a cushion he did not give up.
Cink clawed back to within two with a birdie at the seventh after Harrington bogeyed the sixth, but the eighth hole proved decisive. Cink’s drive landed hot on the left side of the fairway, bounced hard, and rolled into a creek on the right. He made bogey. Harrington holed a 30-foot birdie putt to stretch the lead to four.
“That one was definitely kind of a crusher there,” Cink said. “I finally straightened the tee ball out after I hadn’t hit very many good tee balls, and boom, I hit a great one, and it cost me a penalty shot. And then Padraig makes the putt.”
From there, Harrington managed the back nine, playing to the middle of greens and finishing with the low round of the day.
A closing window
Harrington, 54, became the fourth player to defend the US Senior Open title, joining Barber (1984–85), Gary Player (1987–88), and Allen Doyle (2005–06). His previous wins in the event came in 2022 and 2025, both decided on the final hole.
“I like creating records, and to be part of that is a big deal. It just shows how hard it is,” Harrington said. “I’m seeing guys coming along, and I’m kind of realizing there is only a window to win these tournaments. They have told me and other players that it’s kind of up to about 56–57, then it starts going downhill quickly.”
Harrington finished at 12-under 268 (69-67-66-66). Cink shot 71 on Sunday to finish at 8-under 272, marking his second consecutive runner-up finish at this event behind Harrington. Rookie George McNeill was third at 6-under 274, with Ian Poulter fourth at 5-under after a closing 67.
The win moved Harrington to No. 2 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings and earned him an exemption into the 2027 US Open at Pebble Beach. Harrington and Cink have now combined to win each of the last five majors on PGA Tour Champions.
About PGW
0 comments:
Post a Comment