Padraig Harrington cruised into the history books Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.
Harrington used back-to-back 4-under 66s on the weekend at Scioto Country Club to win the U.S. Senior Open by four shots and become just the second player to claim the senior national championship three times.
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Harrington, who also won U.S. Senior Open titles in 2022 and 2025, is now level with Miller Barber (1982, 1984, 1985) for the most victories in championship history.
“I didn’t have to do much on the way home,” said Harrington, who entered Sunday trailing Stewart Cink by a shot before a five-shot swing on the first three holes.
By the time Harrington notched his fifth birdie of the round, at the par-4 11th hole, he was five shots clear of Cink, who closed in 71 to finish second at 8 under. Cink has been runner-up to Harrington at each of the last two U.S. Senior Opens.
George McNeill was third at 6 under, followed by senior debutant Ian Poulter at 5 under and three players – Reteif Goosen, Jamie Donaldson and Paul Stankowski – at 4 under. Michael Block ended T-31 at 3 over as the PGA pro failed to break 70 in any round.
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“It’s very rare for me to win a tournament where it’s actually boring coming down the stretch,” Harrington added. “I’m sorry for the TV viewers. Normally, I have to win the tournament twice, not just once, I create so much drama.”
Harrington, who has now won more senior majors titles (four) than he did regular majors (three), didn’t record a three-putt all week.
“I don’t think I’ve ever won a tournament by putting; this one I did,” Harrington said. “I putted lights out all week. No three-putts, but I also holed a lot of putts, I holed a lot of 10-footers for par. I’ve been telling everybody I’m putting great, I’ve been saying it for six weeks, but I delivered this week.”
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