Pádraig Harrington didn’t have his best stuff at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open at The King’s Course at Gleneagles this weekend but the three time major winner showed up on the final day in Scotland, posting a two-under-par 68, his best of the week to finish T41 at +4.
Harrington made bogey at the par-4 fourth before making threes at the par-4 ninth and 13th. He made use of the most scorable hole on the course, the par-5 18th at he made his final birdie there to close out his 68. Harrington played the 18th four-under-par for the week.
Harrington won the ISPS HANDA Senior Open last year at Sunningdale, but playing his seventh consecutive tournament, it was a disappointing title defence from the Dubliner, who was pretty much out of it from round two. The 54-year-old remains in third place in the Schwab Cup Standings.
Paul McGinley couldn’t seem to find his first round form but he did show improvement in Sunday’s final round. McGinley managed four birdies but it was a double bogey at the par-4 13th that cost him as his final round 70 sees him finish T55 at seven-over.
54-hole leader Jerry Kelly posted a final round 68 to seal the deal as he earned his first win of 2026 with a final tally of 10-under. Kelly’s round got off to a hot start with two quick birdies at the first and third. A couple of bogeys and birdies were mixed in throughout his final round but it was a birdie at the last that sealed it for Kelly.
“It’s indescribable to win it,” said the American. “The senior Claret Jug is the trophy that I’ve wanted as an over-50 golfer other than any other. To do it in Scotland at the Home of Golf and to actually win and get into the Home of Golf at St Andrews, I mean, I’m absolutely speechless.
“But it’s been this Scotland army out here that’s been behind me that really brought me through, and I really appreciate the people for getting behind me and just lifting me up when things were going low, saying you’ve got this and really pulling me through.”
Matt Gogel climbed 12 places in the final round to finish T2 alongside Darren Fichardt and Cameron Percy. Gogel posted a very impressive bogey free 63, the lowest round of the week to get to eight-under.
Fichardt was an inch away from a block buster finish as his greenside chip from the lip of the bunker was nearly holed for eagle. Had that gone in both Fichardt and Kelly would have to battle it out in a playoff.
Percy was alongside Kelly in T1 before a ball was hit on Sunday but the Aussie had a poor Sunday, posting an even-par round.
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