Padraig Harrington wowed the home crowd on Saturday with his historic high-arcing shot during the third round of the U.S. Senior Open. He capped what could have been a very difficult day by making an eagle chip-in from 20 yards off the 18th green. That amazing shot vaulted him right back into a tie for the lead along with Stewart Cink and Mark Hensby. He capped the day off in style with a round of 8-under 202.
The round was not without its frustrations for Harrington. He faced a floundering start, including a double bogey on the par-3 12th hole, which threatened his position in the tournament. He had even more ground to make up when he three-putted from 5 feet for a par on No. This error resulted in yet another bogey and looked to have derailed his momentum.
Though these misfortunes continued, Harrington proved he wouldn’t be easily broken as the round unfolded. He managed to turn what could have been another bogey into a birdie on one of the holes, showcasing his ability to recover under pressure. Yet his road to the 18th hole was a rocky one. His final tee shot curled into the left side rough of the fairway, requiring him to extricate out over a pond onto the short grass, leaving a near 180 yard approach short of the green.
Harrington received the loudest roar from the gallery as he concentrated hard on playing the last hole. His dramatic chip-in not only saved his round but earned him a place in the final group for Sunday’s decisive fourth round. Reflecting on his day, Harrington remarked, “We could’ve taken the day off,” acknowledging the twists and turns he faced throughout the round.
As we know, this veteran golfer’s performance will be crucial. He’s hoping to build on his 2022 U.S. Senior Open title. Cink and Hensby played their way to his score, setting the stage for a hotly contested final round on Sunday. Harrington is singularly focused on holding onto his championship crown.
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