Mark Hensby chasing a birthday bonus at US Senior Open
Mark Hensby and caddie watch the result of his second to the 17th today – image Logan Whitton USGA
Mark Hensby, Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington remain tied for the lead following the completion of a weather-disrupted final round of the US Senior Open at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Hensby missing a great chance to take the outright lead at the last when a five-foot birdie putt slipped by.
For Hensby, however, his 2 under par round of 68 to follow up consecutive 67’s in rounds one and two has him well placed to better his previous best in this championship when 3rd behind Harrington in 2022.
Hensby’s round was highlighted by a 20-foot eagle putt at the 9th, but perhaps an even bigger statement came when he birdied the 13th and 14th holes to lead on his own before he bogeyed the 17th hole to lead with Cink. He and Cink were one clear of Harrington playing the last but, in an unlikely twist, Harrington holed for birdie from 20 yards short of the green and Hensby missed a very makeable 5 footer for the outright lead again.
And so, the joint leaders, who were tied through 36 holes, will do battle again tomorrow. While Hensby could be considered the least likely of the three to win, his pedigree and form this week make such an outcome well within the realm of possibility.
Hensby was one of Australia’s best players during the mid-2000’s wining in Sweden and on the PGA Tour and playing in the 2005 Presidents Cup team, before a car accident saw him struggle. By playing competitively where he could through until turning 50, however, his determination and talent has seen him forge a relatively successful PGA Tour Champions career, and a win tomorrow would be very fitting for the now 53-year-old.
What would make a win even more special for Hensby is that it would come on the day of his 54th birthday
The hole out by Harrington at the last when a dropped shot seemed a possibility and missed birdie chances by both Cink and Hensby changed the dynamic of the event heading into tomorrrow’s final round but all three have realistic chances of claiming hyet another major in the case of Harrington and a first major in either regular or senior golf for Hensby and Cink
There is little doubt that Hensby is enjoying the experience of being in contention and playing with two players of the calibre of Harrington and Cink.
“Any time you play with two great players like that, it’s definitely fun,” said Hensby after his round. “Didn’t go off to the best start, but as Padraig said, we all kind of made a few birdies there in a row and we started to get things going.
“It’s fun playing with those two guys. They’re just such great players. Obviously, Padraig winning three major championships in his career, and Stewart Cink is — it’s awesome, no doubt.
“That chip, (by Harrington) obviously going in was momentum, and then I actually felt like, okay, now it’s time to go. Unfortunately, around here is tricky. You can have a five-footer that can break two feet. People go, ahh, when you miss a four-footer even though you’re aiming at a cup outside the left edge and hoping. But it was fun.”
