USGA: US Senior Open Leaderboard Results
David Shefter USGA Staff
There is a reason why someone the caliber of Padraig Harrington had the golf chops to get himself inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Under the biggest pressure in the most prestigious competitions, the experienced and affable Irishman just knows how to close.
That intestinal fortitude – and magnificent skill – was on full display in Sunday’s final round of the 46th U.S. Senior Open Championship at Scioto Country Club. Entering the day a stroke behind Stewart Cink, the hottest player on the PGA Tour Champions who was eyeing an unprecedented third consecutive senior major of 2026, all Harrington did was fire a 4-under 66 to successfully defend the title he captured a year ago at The Broadmoor.
His 72-hole total of 12-under 268 was four strokes ahead of Cink, who had a disappointing final round, shooting 1-over 71 after a bogey-free 64 in the third round. Harrington was the only player in the field to register sub-70 rounds all four days, and he achieved it without a single three-putt green.
U.S. Senior Open rookies 3rd George McNeill (71--274) and 4th Ian Poulter (67—275) .
Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen, qualifier Jamie Donaldson and Paul Stankowski shared 5th at -4 276. It was Stokowski's third consecutive top-10 finish.
Coupled with his 2022 victory at Saucon Valley Country Club, Harrington, 54, has now hoisted the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy three times, matching the late Miller Barber for the most in U.S. Senior Open history. He also is the fourth player to capture back-to-back titles, joining Barber (1984-85), Gary Player (1987-88) and Allen Doyle (2005-06).
“It's different, I've got to say,” said Harrington, whose first two Senior Open victories came in nail biters. “It feels great, but obviously there wasn't the drama that I know we normally provide down the stretch. That doesn't mean that I wasn't feeling it. I was really trying to stay in it, stay focused. I knew I had a nice lead which let me play to the middle of the greens, let me hit the shots.
“But I did hit some big shots coming on the way home to take all the stress out of it. I had a great week putting, which wow, golf is easier when you putt well.”
The day – and the championship – belonged to Harrington, a 2024 Hall-of-Fame inductee who registered three majors when he competed on the PGA and European tours. In the midst of playing eight consecutive weeks, the tenacious 54-year-old from Dublin was magical on the greens, ranking first in putting for the championship (1.64 per green). He tied for first in birdies (19) and tied for ninth in greens in regulation (52 of 72).
Now, he’ll look forward to defending his Senior Open title at Gleneagles in a few weeks as well as playing The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Next week, he drives up to northern Ohio for the Kaulig Companies Championship (Senior Players) at Firestone CC., in Akron.
Bryan Angus (edit)
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