Padraig Harrington ended his third round of the U.S. Senior Open at Broadmoor Golf Club on a high note on Saturday, with a chip-in for birdie that ensured he’d play in the final group on Sunday afternoon.
A 30-year professional golf career has ensured that Harrington is well past the point of experiencing many firsts on tour, but Saturday’s 18th-hole birdie meant the 53-year-old three-time major winner would undergo a rare first on Sunday: Playing with the same person for all four rounds.
“I don’t think it’s ever happened. I’m not sure if it’s ever happened,” Harrington said Saturday. “If there was ever going to be somebody I would be paired with, it is Stewart Cink, that’s for sure.
“Yeah, I don’t think I’ve done that four days in a row,” he continued. “We’ve been pretty close all the way, and with Mark [Hensby] there, Mark added a lot to the group today, the three of us. There seemed to be great momentum in the group at all times. As I said, it was a very relaxed, happy group.”
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Harrington was paired with Cink and Justin Leonard for the first two rounds — a grouping that is put together by the USGA. Once the cut is made after 36 holes, players are re-grouped by score, with the leaders playing last. After posting two consecutive rounds of 67, Harrington was a tournament co-leader, along with Cink (68-66) and Australian Mark Hensby (67-67), so the trio was grouped together for Round 3.
Then on Saturday, all three players signed for rounds of 68, with Harrington’s consequential chip-in solidifying his standing in the final group for Sunday’s round. Thomas Bjorn is one shot behind, at seven under par overall.
So on Sunday, Harrington will play the final round of the U.S. Senior Open alongside Cink once again, making it four rounds in a row — something he can’t recall ever happening before. But luckily for Harrington, the vibes are good.
“It was a very pleasant group, I’ve got to say,” Harrington said. “It’s very early, but we seemed to be happy for each other making birdies and getting going and moving forward, which is kind of important in the group.”
You can watch the final round of the U.S. Senior Open at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.
