Here they come again.
A year after going head-to-head down the stretch during the final round of the 2025 U.S. Senior Open in Colorado, Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington will repeat their competitive performance at Scioto Country Club on July 5. This time with Cink hoping for a different outcome.
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Harrington won the faceoff last year at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, eking past Cink by one shot to secure his second national senior championship title. The Irishman finished 11 under to Cink’s 10 under.
Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink shake hands following the third round of the U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club in Columbus on July 4, 2026.
Entering Sunday’s final round at Scioto, Cink’s 9 under total is one shot better than Harrington. Second-round leader George McNeill sits two back at 7 under.
“It probably naturally does add a little bit [of fire] because we did this last year,” said Cink, whose third-round 64 included five birdies and matched Darren Clarke for low round of the day. “We’ve done it a number of times other than last year, and before the [Champions Tour] as well, back in the early days. I think we did this in the Ryder Cup.
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“Harrington is such a great player, and I’ve admired his game for so long, I think we both kind of bring good out of each other. I know I’ve heard him say that in the press. I know he probably thinks I don’t read his press, but I’ve read it before. He said that. I agree. I like playing with him. And he’s the ultimate competitor. He’s never going to take a shot off, and I don’t expect him to tomorrow, either.”
A win would give Cink titles in the first three of five senior majors this season. He won the Senior PGA Championship April 16 and the Regions Tradition two weeks later. All that remains is the Kaulig Companies Championship (formerly the Senior Players Championship) at Firestone in Akron, and the Senior Open Championship in Scotland.
Harrington warned not to discount any player within a few shots of the leader, but knows all eyes will be on him and Cink.
“I’ve done this a few times with Stewart, yeah,” he said. “Look, it’s one of those things, there’s lots of cliches in it. You’ve got to play your own game, knuckle down and do your thing. As I said, there will be ebbs and flows. There will be … somebody is going to get a good stretch of holes. Could be two-shot swings on a hole. Who knows. There’s always that sort of thing.”
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Who missed the cut at the U.S. Senior Open
Among the notable players to miss the cut were Jay Haas, Davis Love III, Mike Weir and Angel Cabrera.
2026 U.S. Senior Open prize money: How much is the tournament purse?
Golfers will be vying for a share of a $4 million purse when the 2026 U.S. Senior begins tournament play July 2. Last year’s winner, Padraig Harrington, took home $800,000 of the $4 million total purse.
Who are the winners on the PGA Tour Champions this season?
Note: The U.S. Senior Open is a USGA event and not affiliated with the PGA Tour Champions.
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Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai: Stewart Cink
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Chubb Classic: David Toms
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James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational: Zach Johnson
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Cologuard Classic: Steven Alker
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Hoag Classic: Stewart Cink
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Senior PGA Championship: Stewart Cink
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Mitsubishi Electric Classic: Retief Goosen
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Regions Tradition: Stewart Cink
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Insperity Invitational: Boo Weekley
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Trophy Hassan II: Scott Hend
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American Family Insurance Championship: Darren Clarke & Ben Crane
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Principal Charity Classic: Zach Johnson
Stewart Cink of the United States acknowledges the crowd after making par on the 18th green during the third round of the U.S. Senior Open Championship 2026 at Scioto Country Club on July 04, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
List of Past U.S. Senior Open winners
Bolded names indicate players competing in the 2026 U.S. Senior Open
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2025: Pádraig Harrington
1980: Roberto De Vicenzo
1981: Arnold Palmer
1982: Miller Barber
1983: Billy Casper
1984: Miller Barber
1985: Miller Barber
1986: Dale Douglass
1987: Gary Player
1988: Gary Player
1989: Orville Moody
1990: Lee Trevino
1991: Jack Nicklaus
1992: Larry Laoretti
1993: Jack Nicklaus
1994: Simon Hobday
1995: Tom Weiskopf
1996: Dave Stockton
1997: Graham Marsh
1998: Hale Irwin
1999: Dave Eichelberger
2000: Hale Irwin
2001: Bruce Fleisher
2002: Don Pooley
2003: Bruce Lietzke
2004: Peter Jacobsen
2005: Allen Doyle
2006: Allen Doyle
2007: Brad Bryant
2008: Eduardo Romero
2009: Fred Funk
2010: Bernhard Langer
2011: Olin Browne
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2012: Roger Chapman
2013: Kenny Perry
2014: Colin Montgomerie
2015: Jeff Maggert
2016: Gene Sauers
2017: Kenny Perry
2018: David Toms
2019: Steve Stricker
2020: Championship canceled (COVID-19)
2021: Jim Furyk
2022: Pádraig Harrington
2023: Bernhard Langer
2024: Richard Bland
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Seeking 3rd straight major title, Stewart Cink holds 54-hole lead at U.S. Senior Open
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