'It is not all fun': Pádraig Harrington becomes second player to win three US Senior Opens
WINNER WINNER: Padraig Harrington raises aloft the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy after winning the US Senior Open Championship at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio. Pic: Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Pádraig Harrington has become just the second player to win the US Senior Open three times after blitzing the field with a birdie barrage at Scioto Coutry Club in Columbus, Ohio.
Only Miller Barber, in 1985, has won three times but Harrington's Saturday salvo kept him in the running to add to his 2022 and 2025 titles - and he backed it up with some superb Sunday play.
“It’s a fantastic golf course in the best condition that you could ever hope for,” began Harrington shortly after collecting his title.
“The USGA also put on a big tournament. When I won this four years ago now, I was surprised how big a tournament it was. I played tour events but you come out here it’s like playing an old major.
“And the same this week, the pin positions were tight, they were tucked so it really has that feel of a US Open.
“I know we’re seniors and we get a little shorter golf course but it has that feel, you’re under a little bit of pressure, bit of intimidation so for me, personally, I have to thank the USGA for doing such a good job with this set up and really putting it up to us, bringing us to a big golf course, a big tournament test.
“It was in fantastic condition, I could ask for no more and thankfully it worked out well.
“I know people won’t believe this but I don’t think I have ever won a tournament by putting. This one I did.
“I putted the lights out all week, no three putts but I holed a lot of putts, I holed a lot of ten footers for par. I have been telling everyone I have been putting great, I have been saying it for six weeks but I delivered this week.
“Sometimes I chip and putt my way around a golf course but this one was genuine putting. I holed a lot of putts, all the big putts, it makes the game a lot easier!” After an excellent round of 66 on day three got him within one of the Stewart Cink's lead, the Dubliner wasted to no time grabbing top spot right out the gate with birdies on the first two holes while his American playing partner bogeyed the second and third.
Harrington made it matching weekend 66s with a classic final round that included five birdies and just the one dropped shot all day.
The four-time Senior major champion showed all his experience to par the last six holes - he would play his last dozen holes in three-under - and wrap up a record-setting third US Senior Open.
“It’s not a rivalry in that sense,” continued Harrington when asked about his relationship Cink.
“When I won my first major I actually played the last round with Stewart so a lot of my good performances back in the day were with Stewart, we’re very comfortable playing together.
“Even going out today I thought he had the measure of me, to be honest. He looked like he was playing well, I didn’t think I was quite on form. I just got a hot start and Stewart just wasn’t feeling it today.
“It put me in a comfortable position that I didn’t have to do much on the way home. It’s very rare for me to win a tournament where it’s actually boring coming down the stretch.
“I’m sorry for the TV viewers, normally I have to win the tournament twice not just once, I create some drama but today I kept it in the middle of the fairway, middle of the greens anyway on the way home so not too much excitement. It’s nice for me but maybe not for the viewers at home.
“What I said yesterday was basically the further you get away from riding a rollercoaster the more you think you enjoyed it. That’s like the pressure you are under on the last day of a tournament.
“You know you want to be there, you volunteered to be there, that’s where you want to be but it can be quite uncomfortable when you are out there.
“But then if it does work out, which it did today, you think it was all fun which I can assure you it is not all fun!”
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