Defending champion Pádraig Harrington has climbed into solo second place at the halfway mark of the U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club in Ohio with just George McNeill above him, but he’s not the only Irishman in the hunt as Portrush native Chris Devlin shares sixth.
Harrington, who won on his U.S. Senior Open debut at Saucon Valley in 2022 and then claimed his second senior major title last year at Broadmoor in Colorado, was one of five players to shoot 67 on day two, with McNeill’s 66 the only round lower.
Having started on the par-4 10th hole, the affable Irishman birdied the 11th, 12th, and 17th with one dropped shot coming on 16 to turn at -2. He added one more on the second, then parred the remaining seven to move to -4 overall, two shy of McNeill.
His putter saved him on a day when he hit just nine of 14 fairways and 10 of 18 greens.
“I’d like to play well on the weekend, but if I don’t play well, I’m going to try to win this tournament another way,” said Harrington. “It’s just one of those things that with experience I know things don’t go your way at times when you’re leading, and things can feel like bad breaks.
“I’ve seen it before. It doesn’t mean I have any perfect ability to deal with it. I’ve certainly seen all these situations. So, I won’t be surprised by anything, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m going to handle it that well, either.”
McNeill, who made just two of 12 cuts in major championships during his PGA Tour career, is one of the U.S. Senior Open rookies having turned 50 late last year.
He had one of those rounds where he found most of his targets, the lone blemish coming at the par-3 third, his 12th hole of the day. He concluded his day in style, sinking a 25-foot downhill birdie putt on the par-3 ninth. He also took advantage of both par-5s (6 and 12) and added birdies on Nos. 13 and 17.
“Go get some rest, get some dinner, take a shower,” said McNeill of his evening plans. “Nothing out of the ordinary. I don’t think I’m going to try to do anything different than I normally would at a tournament.”
He’ll play in a final threesome with Harrington and Stewart Cink, who already has two major titles to his name this year having claimed the Regions Traditions and the Senior PGA Championship.
For the second consecutive day, the 53-year-old got better the longer he spent in the searing sun. In the first round, Cink carded a back-nine 30 for a 67. On Friday, Cink was three-over after a bogey on the fourth hole, his 13th of the day, before rallying with three birdies over his last four holes.
Cink sits tied for third alongside Charlie Wi and Miguel Ángel Jiménez at -3, but the story of the Championship so far is qualifier Chris Devlin.
To prepare himself for Scioto, Devlin carded a 65 at the Country Club of Birmingham’s West Course, another Ross venue not far from his Alabama residence. He also made a reconnaissance trip to Scioto after qualifying on June 9 in Nebraska.
Now the managing director of Priority Care Systems Connex, a medical services organization and value-based care network that focuses on preventive medicine, chronic condition management, and the enhancement of personalized patient treatment plans, the Portrush native didn’t have much thought of competing professionally again after “retiring” in 2013.
After a four-year career at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he gave up part of his scholarship money to recruit good friend and fellow Royal Portrush member Graeme McDowell to the Division I school, Devlin tried to earn a living playing in Europe. He also qualified for three Korn Ferry Tour events and the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.
A back injury led to a new career in healthcare as well as amateur reinstatement. He even qualified for a couple of U.S. Amateurs, including 2021 (Oakmont) at the age of 46. Two years ago, he won the Trans-Miss Mid-Amateur by 14 strokes That’s when friends told him he should try playing professionally again as a senior (50 and older), and he qualified for the 2025 U.S. Senior Open, tying for 55th.
But with limited playing opportunities – the PGA Tour Champions is no longer conducting qualifying to get on the circuit – Devlin has focused most of his energy toward his business. It also pained him to watch this year’s Regions Traditions at his home club (Greystone). The U.S. Senior Open, however, gives him a chance, and he’s taken full advantage the past few days, hitting 14 of 14 fairways on Friday en route to his 68.
His highlight came at the par-5 12th when he hit a 3-wood to 12 feet to set up an eagle.
“Just the magnitude of all the USGA events, they’re first class,” said Devlin, now playing in his sixth, but fifth since qualifying for the 2021 U.S. Amateur at 46. “It’s such a great experience to play in any one of them. Every golf course is set up in a fair way, but a very, very difficult way. So, your preparation has to be first class…especially for someone like me who’s not used to playing in all of the big [senior professional] events. It’s been certainly a great experience.”
Darren Clarke will also see action in the final two rounds. The 2011 Open champion sits tied for 41st at +3 after a second-round 72 to follow his opening 71.
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