Padraig Harrington delivered a commanding performance at the 2025 ISPS Handa Senior Open at Sunningdale Golf Club, securing his second senior major title of the year with a final-round 3-under 67 to finish at 16-under 264, three shots clear of Thomas Bjorn and Justin Leonard.
The victory marked Harrington as the fifth player in history to win both The Open Championship and the Senior British Open, joining golfing legends Bob Charles, Gary Player, Tom Watson, and Darren Clarke.
Harrington, who won The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008, entered the final round with a two-shot lead over Leonard and wasted no time asserting dominance, starting with a stunning eagle on the par-5 first hole after a 12-foot putt.
The Irishman’s length off the tee, averaging 308 yards and leading the field in driving distance, proved a significant advantage on the Old Course at Sunningdale. Birdies on the sixth and ninth extended his lead to four at the turn, and despite a bogey on the 17th, Harrington’s precise iron play and clutch par saves—particularly on the par-5 14th where he got up and down for birdie—ensured no one got closer than two shots.
“I’m thrilled to have won but very satisfied that I’ve won a Senior Open with my two Opens,” Harrington said. “The fact that only five people have ever done it is quite special. I’m quite proud that I’ve managed to survive this long in the game.”
Harrington’s focus was evident as he avoided leaderboards, only asking his caddie for an update on the 17th, and was unaware of Rory McIlroy walking the gallery.
Bjorn made a late charge with a 67, briefly closing to within two shots, but a bogey on the 16th halted his momentum, leaving him tied for second with Leonard, who carded a 68. Australian Scott Hend finished solo fourth at 12-under with a final-round 65, while Ernie Els and Cameron Percy tied for fifth at 11-under.
Harrington’s victory, his 11th on the PGA Tour Champions in 59 starts, followed his U.S. Senior Open win in June 2025 at The Broadmoor. His 264 total was one stroke shy of the Senior British Open’s lowest 72-hole score, and his fourth consecutive multi-win season on the Champions Tour underscored his enduring prowess.
The win earned Harrington $447,800 from the $2.85 million purse and an exemption into the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
“As you get older, you realize a lot of things is legacy,” he said, reflecting on adding to his storied career, which includes three major championships and three senior major titles, alongside a 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame induction.
