COLUMBUS, Ohio — It is shaping as much as be one other showdown between Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington for the U.S. Senior Open championship.
Cink shot a 64 within the third spherical at Scioto Nation Membership on Saturday, tied for final within the event. At 9-under 201, he leads defending champion Harrington by one stroke.
That is the second yr in a row that Sink and Harrington are within the ultimate group. Harrington, Cink and Mark Hensby have been tied after final yr’s third spherical on the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., with Harrington profitable his second Senior Open title by one stroke.
“We have been doing this final yr, so it is most likely going so as to add somewhat bit naturally. We have achieved it many occasions apart from final yr, and we did it earlier than the PGA Tour Champions and within the early days as properly. I believe we did this on the Ryder Cup as properly,” Sink mentioned. “Tomorrow I will have my arms full with him and the opposite gamers, however largely Scioto and myself.”
Cink may grow to be the fifth athlete to win this occasion, following his runner-up end final yr. The final time Fred Funk did so was in 2009.
George McNeil is one other participant within the ultimate pairing. On the finish of the second spherical, he was main by two strokes, however after capturing a 69, he’s now near a two-stroke lead.
Harrington birdied 4 of the primary 5 holes of the again 9 to succeed in 9 beneath par for the event, however dropped a shot on the ultimate gap and completed with a 66.
The 54-year-old Irishman mentioned earlier this week that he felt some stress being the defending champion, however he not feels that approach.
“I believe that feeling is gone now that Stewart is main the event,” mentioned Harrington, who’s searching for to grow to be the primary participant since Allen Doyle in 2006 to win back-to-back Senior Opens. “It is on his shoulders and he is the one main. I am chasing proper now, so I haven’t got that feeling in any respect.”
Cink can be chasing two milestones. The 53-year-old is aiming to grow to be the primary senior to win three majors. He has 4 wins in 9 PGA Tour Championships this yr, together with the Senior PGA Championship and Custom.
The final participant to win the Senior PGA, Custom and U.S. Senior Open in the identical yr was Jack Nicklaus in 1991. Scioto, the Donald Ross course that may host the third U.S. Senior Open, is the place Nicklaus realized the sport.
Sink and Harrington have been tied after Harrington made bogey on the par-4 18th gap.
“In the present day was a very good day. The golf course was somewhat mushy,” Sink mentioned. “I felt like I used to be extra aggressive and had extra management over the balls that landed.”
Saturday’s tee time was moved up a number of hours as a result of risk of late afternoon thunderstorms in central Ohio. Early morning showers made the course mushy.
Tee occasions for the ultimate spherical have been additionally introduced ahead to keep away from potential delays. Additional rain in a single day will have an effect on everybody’s technique for Sunday.
“If that storm dumped a half-inch of rain on this golf course, it will be a very totally different check. I do not suppose it will be smart to make any sort of scoring plan proper now,” Sink mentioned. “A part of my perception is that it doesn’t matter what the end result is, I’ve to be keen to just accept it. That is the one approach I can free myself.”
McNeil is a rookie on the PGA Tour Champions and final received on the PGA Tour in 2012. McNeil, 50, had by no means damaged 70 in 5 U.S. Open appearances, however a first-round 68 moved him inside one shot and he took the lead with a 66 on Friday.
“I’ve performed on the Champions Tour and performed in some ultimate teams this yr. I’ve performed fairly properly thus far this yr. Perhaps I will simply attempt to get again into that type,” mentioned McNeil, who’s 7-under 203 after 54 holes.
McNeil is attempting to grow to be the thirteenth participant to win his first U.S. Senior Open. The final particular person to do it was Richard Model in 2024.
Miguel Angel Jimenez (67) is in fourth place with a 6-under 204, three pictures behind. Darren Clarke additionally shot a 64 on Saturday and is tied for fifth with Paul Stankowski (68) at 3-under 207.
