Padraig Harrington is not the observer of the rankings. So when Thomas Bjorn played in the penultimate pairing behind Harrington in the final round of Sunday’s Senior Open Championship, Harrington wasn’t the stupidest of all.
“The only time I’ve seen a ranking is 18,” Harrington said after the round. “I asked Luo Nan [Flood, his caddie] In 17, what is my lead, I have never seen the rankings. Totally focused on what I’m doing. ”
We can debate in another space, which is the benefits and disadvantages of peeping scores, but Harrington has a plan and he sticks with it.
He would be shush at No. 17, but anyway–at that time, he still had a comfortable lead, and his first senior open title was in his hands. After 18 pars, Harrington completed three matches between Bjorn and Justin Leonard, becoming one of five players to win the Open and Senior Open Championship.
Another interesting sidebar of Harrington’s victory in Sunningdale? Rory McIlroy was there to witness it.
It’s still part of it.
McIlroy recently moved into a new house in nearby Wentworth, where he popped up in an old class in Sunningdale to compete in some fourth rounds. In his dark sunglasses and neat hair, he strolls the hotel and takes photos with his fans. Harrington’s reaction to having the Ruler Masters champion attend?
He told reporters: “I didn’t see him there.” “Is he there?”
When a reporter joked, “He’s not on the beard, he’s invisible,” Harrington said, “I’m bowing all day. I’ve never seen anyone. I don’t know.”
After the victory, Harrington finished second in the opening ceremony twice, once fifth, and he talked about the importance of finally winning the championship in the championship that was still relatively young at the age of 53.
“You start to get the job done in these positions and suddenly it becomes a grinding stone on your neck,” he said. “You want to get this victory as early as possible. You know, there are about 55, 56 golden ages to win on the Championship Tour. So, it’s not like to leave for a few more years, or it’s going to get harder.”
On different levels, McIlroy can connect.
