Padraig Harrington’s already prodigious focus was on dramatic display at the Senior British Open. He passed through those defenses masterfully on the legendary Old Course at Sunningdale. The Irish golfer maintained his focus throughout the final round, culminating in a three-shot victory over Thomas Bjørn and Justin Leonard. Harrington’s win marks his second senior major of the year and solidifies his place as one of the elite players in the tournament’s history.
Harrington began his final round with an eagle on No. 1, one of the tournament’s four par-5 holes. This quick, strong start would be characteristic of his dynamic driving all day long. After beginning play with a two-shot cushion, he made sure no one got within two shots from there. His consistent play and calm disposition under pressure kept him in front all day, wrapping up the day with a 3-under 67.
Though it was an incredibly high-stakes environment, Harrington still didn’t let outside noise bother him. So he wasn’t aware of any changes on the leaderboard until he made it to the 18th green. “The only time I saw a leaderboard was on 18,” he stated. His intense focus meant that he was unaware of Rory McIlroy’s presence in the gallery, expressing surprise when informed of the popular golfer’s attendance. “I didn’t see him out there. Was he out there?” Harrington remarked.
Harrington’s caddie would only provide updates when required. That would’ve been particularly key on the 17th hole, as Harrington was visibly informing himself of his position in the tournament. His disciplined work ethic kept him centered. Second, he was largely free to focus on following his specific game plan without outside noise.
With this victory, Harrington goes down in history. He is now the fifth player to win both a Senior British Open title and a regular British Open title. Now, he can brag of having captured 11 titles on the PGA Tour Champions. For the last four seasons, he’s been the guy with double digit wins each season.
Looking back on his accomplishment, Harrington said that he felt equally excited, accomplished and fulfilled. “I’m thrilled to have won but very satisfied that I’ve won a Senior Open with my two Opens,” he shared.
Harrington just gave a clinic on properly cleaning up at the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional. Sadly, an ironic late two-shot swing stopped him from taking the T-1st over Ángel Cabrera. He has clearly rebounded strongly, seizing control late in the third round at Sunningdale and demonstrating that he remains a formidable competitor on the course.
Leave a Reply