Pádraig Harrington hopes the floodgates will open again for him ahead of his title defence at the US Senior Open this week after notching his first Champions Tour win of the 2023 season.
Harrington made history at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open as he became the first player to defend the title after a blistering back nine of 28 including four birdies in a row, an eagle and a birdie in six holes saw him roar from the pack to win by one.
Today marks one year since the Dubliner won the US Senior Open for his first Champions Tour win of his career – he would end the season on four. He hopes he can go on a similar run towards the end of the season starting with his US Senior Open defence at Stevens Point.
“You know, the interesting thing is it took me half the year last year (to get a win),” said Harrington.
“Well, I won four from this period on. I don’t like superstitions or anything like that, but it took me half a year to get going last year and I won this week.
“Obviously the U.S. Open was this week last year, U.S. Open Senior, so second half of the year I’m here for a run.”
It’s been a hectic run for the three-time major winner who finished T27 at the US Open in LA Country Club which saw him move back inside the top-200 in the world at 180 – he is now 183.
“Yeah, look, there’s no doubt a lot of players came up to me this week and said “well played last week”, and that does you no harm, does you no harm.
“And as I’ve said about the Champions Tour, it’s interesting, when we’re out here we’re trying to beat the hell out of each other, but whenever somebody goes back to the regular Tour we’re all rooting for them. We’re all hoping whoever goes back plays well just to prove that we still have it out here.
“And it is startling how much pressure you’re under out here. You’ve got to shoot 18 under in three days. That’s a lot of work. Doesn’t matter, you know, you’ve got to hole the putts, you’ve got to hit the wedges close, you’ve got to play some golf to get to 18 under par. You know these guys can play.”
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