Harrington Turns a One-Shot Deficit Into a Record-Tying Rout

Padraig Harrington began Sunday one shot behind Stewart Cink and finished four shots clear, turning the final round of the U.S. Senior Open into the least dramatic of his three victories. The 54-year-old Irishman shot a four-under 66 at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, to finish at 12-under 268. The win tied Miller Barber's record of three U.S. Senior Open titles and gave Harrington a second straight championship.

What We Know So Far

Harrington's first two U.S. Senior Open wins, in 2022 and 2025, were decided by one shot. This one broke open almost immediately. He birdied the first two holes while Cink bogeyed the second and third, producing a five-shot swing through three holes and flipping Cink's overnight lead into a three-shot Harrington advantage.

The biggest momentum change came at the par-four eighth. Cink's drive ran into a creek, leading to bogey, while Harrington made a 30-foot birdie putt. That doubled Harrington's lead and removed much of the pressure from the closing stretch. The final-round account from Columbus showed how quickly the contest turned from a one-shot chase into a controlled finish.

Cink, who had been trying to become the first player to win the first three senior majors of a year, hit only 2 of 7 fairways on the front nine and closed with a 71 for 8-under 272. George McNeill finished third at six under, Ian Poulter was fourth at five under, and Harrington's margin was four shots.

The victory was Harrington's 12th PGA Tour Champions win and his fourth senior major. It also made him the fourth golfer to defend a U.S. Senior Open title, joining Miller Barber, Gary Player and Allen Doyle. A Golf Digest report said the win also ended his winless season and came with an $800,000 prize.

Voices & Opinions

Harrington framed the record as both an achievement and a reminder that senior golf offers a limited competitive window.

I like creating records, and to be part of that is a big deal. It just shows how hard it is.

He also admitted the finish felt unusual compared with his previous one-shot victories.

It feels great, but there wasn't the drama we normally provide down the stretch.

Cink's view was more blunt. After struggling with his driver and settling for a second straight runner-up finish, he said the difficulty lasted from start to finish. His account matched the scorecard: early bogeys gave away the lead, and the water ball at No. 8 made the comeback much harder.

Local Impact

For U.S. golf fans, the result was a major championship decided on an Ohio course by a final-round reversal rather than a late duel. Cink entered Sunday with the advantage and a chance at a third straight senior major, but Harrington's opening burst changed the stakes before the back nine.

The result also adds another chapter to a tournament that is the national championship for players 50 and older. Harrington is now level with Barber for the most wins in the event's 46-year history, a mark built across victories in 2022, 2025 and 2026. For spectators who followed the weekend in Columbus, the defining sequence was concentrated into the first eight holes of Sunday.

Coming Up

Harrington's schedule does not slow down after Ohio. The provided reports say he is in the middle of eight straight tournament weeks and will next play the Scottish Open, followed by the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. He is then due to defend the Senior Open Championship before playing the PGA Tour Champions Portugal Invitational.

The next phase places the 54-year-old back against younger players for two events, with his latest senior major arriving immediately before that stretch. The BBC's championship report also notes that Harrington's four senior majors include last year's Senior Open Championship.

At a Glance

• Padraig Harrington won the 2026 U.S. Senior Open by four strokes.
• He shot 66 in the final round and finished at 12-under 268.
• The victory tied Miller Barber's record of three titles.
• Stewart Cink finished second at 8 under after starting Sunday one shot ahead.
• Harrington now has four senior majors and 12 PGA Tour Champions victories.

FAQ

Who won the 2026 U.S. Senior Open?

Padraig Harrington won at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, finishing four strokes ahead of Stewart Cink.

What was Padraig Harrington's winning score?

He finished at 12-under 268 after shooting a four-under 66 in the final round.

How many U.S. Senior Open titles has Harrington won?

He has won three, in 2022, 2025 and 2026, tying Miller Barber for the tournament record.

How did Harrington take the lead from Stewart Cink?

He birdied the first two holes while Cink bogeyed the second and third, creating a five-shot swing through three holes.

What happened on the eighth hole?

Cink drove into a creek and made bogey, while Harrington holed a 30-foot birdie putt to widen the gap.

Where is Harrington playing next?

The provided reports say he is headed to the Scottish Open, then the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.