BEK SHIPPING, England – Padraig Harrington scored a final 65 on the final hole on Saturday, making it to the final round of the British Senior Open with a two-shot lead from Justin Leonard as the Irish played his second-biggest major this year.
Harrington is one of four players who are at least a portion of the lead at some point on the old court in Sunningdale. He took the lead in the birdies on the 13th and 14th, while the closed birdie added his slight lead.
Harrington is under 197 and 13 years old. He started with Links Golf in the last three weeks, starting with the Scottish Open. He won the U.S. Senior Open in Colorado a month ago.
Leonard is the only PGA Tour player to advance at the Royal Portrait British Open, and also scored 65 for the second time in a row.
Thomas Bjorn had 67 shots and was three shots behind.
Harrington and Leonard are past British Open Champions – Leonard won the first of two fuchsia jugs in 1997 at Royal Troon, Harrington won the first of two fuchsia jugs in Carnoustie (2007) and Royal Birkdale (2008). Any one can be the fifth player to win the British Open and the British Senior Open, the last feat Darren Clarke accomplished in 2022.
Steven Alker, a two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner, opened with 73 attempts to return to the game. He shot 66 from the field in a low 8-shot game in 202, down 5 shots.
The winner will be exempted at the 154th British Open next year at Royal Birkdale.