Pádraig Harrington is relishing the prospect of defending his ISPS HANDA Senior Open title as Europe’s only Senior Major returns to The King’s Course at Gleneagles this week.
The three-time Major winner – who now also holds four Senior Major titles – became the fifth player in history to win both The Open Championship and the ISPS HANDA Senior Open as he cruised to a three-shot victory at Sunningdale last year, adding his name to a roll of honour which includes Darren Clarke, Bob Charles, Gary Player and Tom Watson.
Harrington, an ambassador for title partner ISPS HANDA, won his fourth Senior Major at the U.S. Senior Open earlier this month, and the 54-year-old is hungry for more Major success on the over 50’s circuit.
“I’m excited but also there is trepidation and stress when you’re ever defending,” Harrington said on the tournament’s eve. “You’re trying to get yourself ready for the tournament, trying to get everything covered. That’s kind of what Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday are a little bit like. I can’t wait for it to start tomorrow and get going.
“Last year was a big deal for me. Having won The Open, you always want to back it up and win the Senior Open. I was surprised I was only the fifth player to do it, but it meant a lot to me to get that double.
“The course is in great condition. It’s pretty tight in places. I’d be happy if I finished this week without losing a golf ball, put it like that. If I can manage that, I’ll probably be pretty competitive.
“I feel good about my game. I’ve had a bit of a blowout the last couple of weeks, I don’t know if it’s trying too hard or I just fell out of form, but I feel good now. I kind of worked through a few things and I’m looking forward to getting out there and obviously being a little bit more in my own comfort zone.”
He will be joined by Clarke, who lifted the trophy the last time Europe’s only Senior Major was played at Gleneagles to add it to his own Claret Jug.
They are two of ten former Open champions in the field, including South African Ernie Els, Scotland’s Paul Lawrie and American pair David Duval and Justin Leonard, who finished tied second in his debut in this event at Sunningdale 12 months ago.
Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson, along with Henrik Stenson, all won The Open on Scottish soil, at Turnberry, St Andrews and Royal Troon respectively, and the trio are set to make their Senior Open bow this week.
1989 Open winner Mark Calcavecchia last played at Europe’s only Senior Major Championship in 2018 but he makes a welcome return for what will be his eighth appearance at the event.
Paul McGinley will be returning to the venue where he led Team Europe to victory in the 2014 Ryder Cup, alongside his Vice-Captains Padraig and Miguel Ángel Jiménez.
Jamie Donaldson, Stephen Gallacher and Stenson all played on that victorious European team, while Johnson was part of Team USA.
Donaldson secured the winning point for Team Europe on the PGA Centenary Course in 2014 after defeating Keegan Bradley 4&3 to give Europe the 14½ points needed.
It will be the 39th edition of the Senior Open, which was first played in 1987 and brings together stars from the Legends Tour and PGA TOUR Champions, the over-50s Tours based in Europe and the United States, including 15 Major champions, 29 Ryder Cup players and five Ryder Cup captains.
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