Padraig Harrington’s decision on the 18th hole on Sunday was crucial: should he play it safe and take risks on Broadmoor’s complicated greens, or be aggressive and avoid relying on putting? Harrington opted for the second option, leaving his shot 8 feet from the flag. The only big decision left was whether to wait for Stewart Cink, whom he led by one stroke, to finish his putt before securing his second U.S. Senior Open title. The Irishman prevailed in a tournament that resembled more a match play, converting his approach into an easy par of two putts to seal his second title in the last four years at the most prestigious senior golf event. Harrington signed a card of 67 strokes, three under par, for a total of 209, eleven under par, surpassing Cink, who made 68 strokes. Both players shared a group for four consecutive rounds.
Harrington remembered Hale Irwin’s advice, who suggested that, when in doubt, it’s better to play the shot you would if you were losing by one stroke. After Harrington’s shot, Cink, one stroke behind and 30 yards ahead in the fairway, needed to be perfect. However, his approach landed on the edge of a ledge and rolled back towards the center of the green. It was the result Harrington had tried to avoid. Cink’s ball stopped 35 feet away, and his desperate attempt at a birdie failed. With both players at a distance of par, there were pauses and laughter as Harrington marked about 3 inches so Cink could sink and the Irishman was the last on the 18th hole.Sometimes, playing it safe is not the best option.
Padraig Harrington
Harrington recalled his victories at the British Open and the PGA Championship in 2007, and the PGA Championship in 2008. “You relive the glories of the past, making shots, waving to the crowd. People come because they know you from the past,” he added.Somehow, this validates your career.
Padraig Harrington
Harrington finished with seven consecutive pars and added this U.S. Senior Open title to the one he won in 2022. The only player who joined Sunday’s show was Miguel Ángel Jiménez. After starting with bogey, Jiménez made eight birdies to get within one stroke of the lead. But his shot on the 18th hole failed, he had to get out and make a bogey. Even so, he made the best round of the tournament, a 64, six under par, and finished third, two strokes behind.It’s frustrating because I hit some really good iron shots to put myself in position and force Harrington to make a finish a little more heroic than just pars. But it couldn’t be. I don’t know, that’s just Broadmoor. I wish I had those two putts.
Stewart Cink
The other player in Cink-Harrington’s group, who went out in groups of three to avoid the weather, was Mark Hensby. Celebrating his 54th birthday, Hensby couldn’t replicate the magic that led him to 19 birdies in the first three days and to share the lead. He only made two on Sunday and shot 73, three over par, to tie for fourth place with Thomas Bjorn. Harrington’s precise approach on the 18th hole consolidated that green as the easiest he faced all week. The day before the simple putt that closed the tournament, Harrington holed out for a birdie from about 20 meters, and when Cink missed a good birdie attempt, Harrington tied for the lead and prepared for the fourth consecutive day with Cink. That changed things, no doubt. I was in the last group and slept soundly last night. I was in a good place last night. The Sunday night was surely even better for Harrington.We are human. I made a couple of mistakes.
Miguel Ángel Jiménez
