Cameron Percy extends lead in Senior Open Championship
Cameron Percy – in action this week – image Getty Images
Victorian Cameron Percy extended his one-shot day one lead in the ISPS Senior Open Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland, following up his opening round of 63 with a round of 68 on day two in windy conditions to now lead by three over American Jerry Kelly, with another two shots back to major champions Ernie Els and Henrik Stenson and Austria’s Markus Brier.
Percy, now into his third season on the PGA Tour Champions, has yet to win but recorded three runner-up finishes last year and in 2026 has been 3rd and 5th in recent starts and now opens up this opportunity not only to win for the first time but to win a senior major.
First prize in the US2.85 million event is US$447,000.
The 52-year-old, who played the PGA and Korn Ferry Tours earlier in his career, has won close to US$3 million in his time on the PGA Tour Champions, his long hitting (averaging 296 yards) proving to be valuable at this level.
Percy recovered from a slow start to his second round, bouncing back from dropped shots at his 5th and 8th holes to record four birdies to finish with a 2-under 68 and take the significant lead into the weekend at the King’s Course at the inland Gleneagles in Perthshire.
“I mean, yesterday I hit it everywhere I was looking, so it was pretty easy,” said Percy, referring to the difference between days one and two. ”Today it was way harder trying to judge how much the wind would hit stuff. I got it around okay. That was the difference, I think.
“Obviously I’m very happy. It’s such a hard golf course. You’ve got to concentrate on every single shot. There’s no easy holes or anything. You can lose your ball on every shot. That’s what I like. It keeps me tuned in, if that makes sense.”
Queensland’s Michael Wright is the next best of the Australasians in a share of 7th place after rounds of 66 and 72 while Steve Allan is in a share of 14th and Mark Hensby 16th.
