Irish golf icon Padraig Harrington has been lavished with praise by former Open champion Stewart Cink after he clinches his second US Senior Open title. The 53-year-old won £600,000 for his victory in Colorado.
The Dublin-born star, who won the Claret Jug at the Open himself in both 2007 and 2008 and nailed a PGA Championship win that same year, showed he’s still got plenty in the tank as he successfully regained his US Senior Open crown this past weekend.
Battling it out on the greens, Harrington took the trophy with just a one-stroke lead over Cink, who was generous in his commendation post-tournament.
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“Yeah, he’s the ultimate competitor and a quality individual. I have the highest respect for his game and for him as a person,” Cink said after the gripping final round on Sunday.
“Even though he’s a peer, he’s a guy I’ve always also looked up to because I’ve played with him so much and I admire the way he kind of treats golf. He treats golf the way I want to treat golf myself.
“He’s in the present. He never gives up. He’s always got a good attitude. That’s the hallmark of a high-quality player for a long time, and that’s what he is.”
Over the course of the four-day challenge, Harrington and Cink were neck-and-neck, culminating in an exceptional final round 67 by the Irishman on Broadmoor’s daunting course, reports Belfast Live.
Harrington claimed the US Senior Open title with a decisive 18th-hole outing, thanks to a precise approach shot that landed just eight feet from the pin and put him in the driving seat.
The 53-year-old’s closest rival, Cink, was left with little hope after his own approach spun back to 35 feet, setting up a two-putt that would ultimately fall short, with him needing to better Harrington to draw level.
Harrington had also faced a brief challenge from Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, who carded eight birdies on the final day to narrow the gap to just one shot. However, a bogey on the 18th hole ended Jimenez’s slim hopes of victory.
The Irishman sealed his win with a two-putt and took home roughly £600k for his exploits, leaving Cink as the runner-up and beneficiary of a £315k windfall.