COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Padraig Harrington faced a crucial decision as he approached the 18th fairway on Sunday during the U.S. Senior Open. He had to decide between playing a cautious approach and testing the tricky greens at Broadmoor, or opting for a bold play to clinch the win without relying on his putting.
Harrington chose the bolder path, executing a stellar shot that landed just 8 feet from the hole. This decisive move minimized the drama that followed, leaving only the question of whether he should let Stewart Cink, trailing him by one shot, sink his putt first before tapping in to secure his second U.S. Senior Open title. Harrington successfully converted his precise approach into an effortless two-putt par, capturing his second title in four years at this esteemed senior golf event.
With a final score of 3-under 67, he concluded the tournament at 11-under 209, narrowly holding off Cink, who finished with a 68. “Sometimes playing it safe is not the right option,” Harrington reflected, recalling advice from Hale Irwin, who once suggested choosing the shot one would take if trailing by a stroke when in doubt.
Cink, finding himself 30 yards in front on the fairway and one shot behind after witnessing Harrington’s shot, needed perfection for any hope. Unfortunately, his approach shot fell short—perching on a ledge before spinning back toward the green’s center, leaving him 35 feet from the hole. Cink’s attempt for a miracle birdie veered to the right.
With both golfers set to conclude their rounds with pars, a moment of levity ensued as Harrington marked his ball from a mere 3 inches, allowing Cink the dignity of putting out, so he could eventually be the last to tap in. “It kind of validates your career,” Harrington remarked, reminiscing about his major victories at the British Open and PGA in 2007 and again the subsequent year.
Despite Harrington’s triumph, Cink, aged 52, endured a tough loss, a close contest reminiscent of his 2009 British Open win. The final day of play was intense, witnessing five lead changes and three ties. On the crucial 16th and 17th holes, Cink narrowly missed clutch birdie putts within 6 feet, illustrating that, indeed, crucial moments boiled down to putting precision, where Harrington held a slim advantage.
“It’s frustrating because I hit really good iron shots there, ready to put pressure on Harrington and force a more dramatic win,” Cink said. “But it wasn’t to be, that’s Broadmoor’s challenge. I just wish I could redo those two putts.” Harrington maintained composure with seven consecutive pars, adding this title to his U.S. Senior Open win from 2022.
Miguel Angel Jimenez also challenged for the title, recovering from a bogey start to make eight birdies and moving within one shot of the leaders. Despite an errant drive on the 18th, leading to a bogey, Jimenez secured a third-place finish, with his 6-under 64 marking the tournament’s best round.
“We are human,” remarked Jimenez, reflecting on a couple of costly mistakes following a senior major win the previous week at the Kaulig Companies Championship. Mark Hensby, who shared the final group with Cink and Harrington, fell out of contention, celebrating his 54th birthday with a 3-over 73, tying for fourth place alongside Thomas Bjorn.
For Harrington, that final approach on No. 18 was among the easiest shots of his week-long challenge. The previous day’s pivotal moment when he chipped in from 20 yards for a birdie set up the thrilling showdown against Cink for the fourth consecutive day. Harrington recalled, “It did change things, no doubt. I was in a comfortable position going to bed last night.” Harrington likely ended Sunday evening feeling even more triumphant after a hard-fought victory.