Harrington defends US Senior Open title with debutant Poulter fourth

Padraig Harrington notched a four-under 66 in his final round to finish 12 under over the weekend and win the US Senior Open title for the second year running.

Harrington produced five birdies in six holes in the final round to beat Stewart Cink to his third title, who finishes runner-up for the second year running after a final round 71 left him four shots off top at 8-under for the weekend, even after a bogey-free 64 in the third round.

Ian Poulter finished fourth on five under on his US Senior Open debut after an impressive final round 67 got him back into contention, but fellow debutant George McNeill in third kept the Brit at bay despite a final round 71, finishing at six under.

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"It's different, I've got to say," said Harrington. "It feels great, but obviously there wasn't the drama that I know we normally provide down the stretch.

"That doesn't mean that I wasn't feeling it. I was really trying to stay in it, stay focused. I knew I had a nice lead which let me play to the middle of the greens, let me hit the shots.

"But I did hit some big shots coming on the way home to take all the stress out of it. I had a great week putting. Golf is easier when you putt well."

Harrington has now matched Miller Barber for the most US Senior Open titles in tournament history, with all of his three wins coming in the last five editions. He also joins Barber (1985), Gary Player (1988), and Allen Doyle (2006) as the only golfers to win the US Senior Open back-to-back.

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

"I'm seeing guys coming along, and I'm kind of realising there is only a window to win these tournaments. They have told me and other players that it's kind of up to about 56-57, then it starts going downhill quickly.

"But I was thinking and feeling that way, that you only have a set period to get your major wins on the Senior Tour because not that you're getting older but new guys are coming in."

Retief Goosen, a two-time tournament winner, shared fifth place with Jamie Donaldson and Paul Stankowski with four under for the weekend.

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