Padraig Harrington beats Cink by 1 stroke at U.S. Senior Open
Pro Golf
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Padraig Harrington's decision when he walked down the 18th fairway Sunday was whether to play a safe approach and take a chance with the Broadmoor's curling, curving greens, or be aggressive and not leave the putting to chance.
He picked the second option, knocked his shot to 8 feet, and the only big decision over the next few minutes was whether he should wait for the man he beat by one, Stewart Cink, to putt out before he tapped in to claim his second U.S. Senior Open title.
Harrington came out on top in a major that felt more like match play, parlaying the approach into an easy two-putt par to seal his second title over the last four years in senior golf's most prestigous event.
Harrington shot 3-under 67 to finish at 11-under 209, edging Cink, who shot 68, on their fourth straight round in the same group.
"Sometimes playing it safe is not the right option," said Harrington, who recalled advice Hale Irwin gave him years back when Irwin suggested that, when in doubt, it's always better to play the shot you'd play if you were losing by a stroke.
After watching Harrington's shot, Cink -- trailing by one and playing 30 yards in front of him on the fairway -- had to be perfect.
But his approach landed on the precipice of a ledge, then spun backward toward the middle of the green. It was exactly the kind of result Harrington had been hoping to avoid moments earlier. Cink's ball didn't come to rest until it was 35 feet away and his desperation birdie try missed to the right.
Elsewhere:
– Aldrich Potgieter ended the protracted Rocket Classic, making an 18-foot birdie putt on the fifth playoff hole to outlast Max Greyserman for his first PGA Tour title on Sunday.
– Patrick Reed lost the lead with a 3-over 75 and then atoned for it by making a 15-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a four-man playoff Sunday to win LIV Golf Dallas, his first title since joining the Saudi-funded league in 2022.
– Adrien Saddier claimed his first European tour title in his 200th start with a back-nine charge at the Italian Open on Sunday. Saddier had a 4-under 66 to finish two strokes overall ahead of fellow Frenchman Martin Couvra (69).
– Somi Lee poured in an 8-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to team with fellow South Korean Jin Hee Im to win the Dow Championship on Sunday, denying Lexi Thompson her first LPGA title in six years.