The 50-year-old carded a 1-over-par 72 for a 72-hole total of 10-under to become the first player from the Republic of Ireland to hoist the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy. He also joined World Golf Hall of Famers Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus as the only multiple winners of The Open to also win the U.S. Senior Open. Harrington, a three-time major champion, claimed the Claret Jug in 2007 and 2008.
Harrington sealed his victory by holing a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 15th hole, and closing with three solid two-putt pars.
“I think it’s special for me to win this one just because I’ve never won a USGA event,” said Harrington, who finished second to Stricker in the season’s first senior major, the Regions Tradition, in May. “I think that adds more than if you could turn around and win a different senior major. But because I was never a U.S. Open champion or a junior champion, it’s great to come and win the senior one. It adds something that I never had in my career.”
When Stricker, who trailed by eight entering Sunday, birdied No. 14 to get to 7 under for the championship, that comeback story was alive and well. But two excellent birdie chances inside 10 feet on Nos. 15 and 16 will likely haunt Stricker. Those misses came before he nearly aced the 144-yard, par-3 17th hole, his ball stopping less than a foot from the hole. Then on 18, Stricker’s 155-yard 9-iron approach to 6 feet set up a final birdie and a remarkable 65.
Just a few moments before Stricker’s birdie, Harrington drained his 30-footer on 15 to momentarily lead by two.
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Padraig Harrington -10
