Harrington Climbs and Leads U.S. Senior Open with Spectacular Chip

Padraig Harrington Redeems Himself with a Chip-In and Leads the U.S. Senior Open

After a complicated day at the Broadmoor, Padraig Harrington was looking for a moment to give him hope. A chip-in from 20 yards for birdie on the 18th hole did it, securing him a place in the final group and the opportunity to win the U.S. Senior Open for the second time in four years.

On Saturday, Harrington’s spectacular shot put him in a tie with Stewart Cink and Mark Hensby, repeating the situation from the beginning of the day. The three players, who shared a group, recorded a 68 (-2) for a total of 202 (-8).

It was special to sink it on 18, with everyone watching, the anticipation. It was very exciting and very good not to have to hit another ball.

Padraig Harrington

Thomas Bjorn, with a 66, the best round of the day, positioned himself one stroke away, creating an exciting four-way battle for the title. Steve Flesch is three strokes behind, while Steven Alker, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Paul Stankowski are four strokes behind. Billy Andrade, despite a difficult finish, managed a par on the 17th hole.

It’s what you do in those last four or five holes that are quite difficult and raise big questions. I’m sure the pin position tomorrow will raise more questions for us. That’s where the golf tournament is won.

Thomas Bjorn

Padraig Harrington celebrates after a day of ups and downs at the U.S. Senior Open, finishing tied for the lead after a birdie on the 18th hole on Saturday.Hensby, who will celebrate his birthday on Sunday, had a bitter moment on the greens, missing a 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th. Despite this, he made four more birdies, totaling 19 in the tournament, compared to Cink’s 13.

You can have a 5-foot putt that breaks 2 feet.

Mark Hensby

The complicated field, with steep slopes and challenging conditions, was a key factor. Cink, after a day with sun, clouds, wind, rain, and a lightning strike that forced a game stoppage, commented on the difficulty of anticipating the ball’s trajectory due to the altitude.

We hit some shots there that we really didn’t know what to expect when the ball was in the air.

Stewart Cink

Harrington, who had lost confidence in the greens, had to deal with a double bogey on the 12th hole and a bogey on the 15th. However, the chip-in on the 18th saved him, securing him a place in the final group and the opportunity to compete for the title.

Yes, I wanted to be in the last group, and the only way to be in the last group was to make that birdie. But just because you want something doesn’t mean you can. If it were that easy, we’d all be great.

Padraig Harrington