Pádraig Harrington extends advantage at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open at Sunningdale, carding a second straight 65 to reach 13-under-par and take a two-shot lead heading into the final round. The Irishman, who famously lifted the Claret Jug in 2007 and 2008, is bidding to become only the fifth player in history to win both The Open and The Senior Open.
Already a Senior Major winner this season after capturing his second U.S. Senior Open title last month, Harrington made early birdies at the 4th and 9th, picked up another at the 11th, and crucially bounced back from a bogey at 12 with back-to-back gains on 13 and 14. He capped his round with a precise approach to three feet on the 18th, converting for birdie to move two clear of Justin Leonard.
Leonard, The Open Champion at Royal Troon in 1997, matched Harrington’s 65 and remains firmly in contention to achieve the same historic double. Only Darren Clarke, Bob Charles, Gary Player and Tom Watson have previously won both titles, with Clarke the most recent in 2022 after edging Harrington by one stroke at Gleneagles.
Thomas Bjørn, Europe’s 2018 Ryder Cup-winning Captain, carded a 67 to sit solo third on 10-under, while Steven Alker, Greg Chalmers, Clark Dennis, and Kevin Sutherland share fourth at eight-under.
Reflecting on his round, Harrington admitted he still didn’t feel fully at ease: “I wasn’t out of position, but I didn’t play a whole lot better than yesterday – maybe just a bit more cautious. It’s always good to bounce back with a birdie after a bogey. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll keep making birdies to offset the mistakes.”
Leonard, meanwhile, credited recent swing changes for his return to form: “I came over last year and played poorly, so I made some changes. It’s been a journey, but now I feel comfortable with my game and I’m really enjoying this course.”
Bjørn knows he needs a low one to have a chance on Sunday: “Six birdies is good, but a couple too many bogeys. Tomorrow, we may have to play the man, not just the course. These guys don’t go away on Sundays – you’ve got to put your foot down and chase them.”
About the ISPS HANDA Senior Open
The ISPS HANDA Senior Open will take place at Sunningdale for the fourth time as the iconic Berkshire venue hosts Europe’s only Senior Major Championship from July 24-27, 2025.
Sunningdale previously hosted the Championship in 2009, 2015 and 2021, with Loren Roberts, Marco Dawson and Stephen Dodd winning the Senior Open trophy on those occasions.
The 2024 Senior Open saw K.J. Choi make history as the first South Korean to win a men’s Senior Major Championship, finishing two strokes ahead of Australia’s Richard Green.
Bernhard Langer became the first golfer in history to win The Senior Open four times with his victory in 2019 at Royal Lytham & St Annes – moving ahead of Gary Player and Tom Watson with whom he previously shared three wins. The German also broke his own record of Senior Major Championship victories – securing his 11th at Royal Lytham & St Annes and since adding a 12th at the 2023 U.S. Senior Open.
The Senior Open was introduced in 1987 at Turnberry in Ayrshire when Neil Coles, the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the European Tour group, won the inaugural title. This led, two years later, to the formal inception of what is now the Legends Tour. It has since been held at some of the United Kingdom’s most historic and renowned venues, including the Old Course at St Andrews, Royal County Down, Carnoustie, Royal Birkdale, Royal Portrush and Royal Lytham & St Annes.
About ISPS HANDA
ISPS Handa was founded by Dr Haruhisa Handa in 2006 to further the transformative power of sport across the globe. ISPS HANDA funds and promotes sporting events in archery, bowling, boxing, football, golf, polo, rowing, rugby and swimming with an emphasis on blind and disabled golf. Dr Handa’s philanthropic work extends to communities around the world, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, providing opportunities and support to causes and communities.
‘‘We believe that sport has a unique ability to create hope, to break down educational and cultural barriers and to inspire people in a way that can unite communities around the world. ISPS HANDA’s support for golf stems from a firm belief in the power of sport.”
About the Legends Tour
Formerly known as the European Senior Tour and the Staysure Tour, the Legends Tour is the men’s professional golf tour for members aged 50 and older. Created in 1992, the Legends Tour’s active membership features many of the pioneering champions who played on the European Tour during the 1970s, 80s, 90s and beyond. Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam are among the winners of the John Jacobs Trophy, which is awarded to the golfer who finishes first on the Legends Tour Order of Merit.
In September 2020, Ryan Howsam, Staysure Group CEO, acquired a majority equity share in the Tour in a ground-breaking joint venture with the European Tour, a unique structure whereby an individual has the majority ownership in a professional tour. The Legends Tour provides unmatched playing experiences for amateur golfers at its Legends Experience, Championship Pro-Am and Celebrity Pro-Am events. These experiences provide golfers with unique opportunities to rub shoulders with and play alongside legends of the game at competitive events hosted at world-class golfing destinations.
About PGA TOUR Champions
PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 35 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. Follow PGA TOUR Champions online at PGATOUR.com, on Facebook, on Twitter (@ChampionsTour), on Instagram (@pgatourchampions) and on TikTok.
All events are televised in the United States on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Internationally, PGA TOUR Champions coverage is available in more than 170 countries and territories via 22 media partners.
