Harrington wins third US Senior Open – Jones and Wright lead Australians
Padraig Harrington – holds his third US Senior Open trophy – image USGA Jeff Haynes
54-year-old Padraig Harrington won three majors in regular tour golf (two Opens and a PGA Championship) and today he added a fourth major in senior golf when he played his way to a comfortable four-shot win over Stewart Cink at the US Senior Open in Columbus, Ohio.
It was Harrington’s third US Senior Open title, having also won in his rookie season in 2022 and again in 2025, joining Miller Barber as the only player to win three US Senior Opens. It also became Harrington’s 12th PGA Tour Champions victory.
“It’s different, I’ve got to say,” said Harrington, whose first two Senior Open victories came in nailbiters. “It feels great, but obviously there wasn’t the drama that I know we normally provide down the stretch. That doesn’t mean that I wasn’t feeling it. I was really trying to stay in it, stay focused. I knew I had a nice lead, which let me play to the middle of the greens, and let me hit the shots.
“But I did hit some big shots coming on the way home to take all the stress out of it. I had a great week putting, which, wow, golf is easier when you putt well.”
The day began with Stewart Cink, the winner of the opening two senior majors to date this season, one ahead of Harrington, but the potential shootout between the two dominant players on the PGA Tour Champions this season never really developed. By the 4th tee, Harrington had moved three clear after birdies at his opening two holes and two early bogeys by Cink.
By the turn, Harrington was four clear, and he would eventually go on to win by four over Cink, with PGA Tour Champions rookie George McNeil another two shots back in 3rd place.
In what was ultimately a disappointing week for the large Australasian contingent, Brend Jones and Michael Wright emerged as the best placed of the 12 who started the week when the pair tied for 20th place.
Jones is playing with limited status on the PGA Tour Champions and, in his second season, gets very few opportunities, but after a slow start to the week, he put together rounds of 69, 69, and 70 to record his best finish of the year and earns a cheque for US$37,000.
Wright’s third round of 67 had him close to the top ten, but a round of 72 today saw him share 20th place with Jones.
Brendan Jones, along with Michael Wright, led the Australians – image USGA
