Pádraig Harrington will bid to turn out to be the fifth participant in historical past to win each The Open and ISPS HANDA Senior Open as he takes a one-stroke lead into the weekend at Sunningdale.
The Dubliner, who gained after which efficiently defended the Claret Jug in 2007 and 2008, carded a 5 beneath spherical of 65 on the Previous Course at Sunningdale as he reached eight beneath par after the primary two days.
Already a Senior Main winner this yr after his U.S. Senior Open success at The Broadmoor in Colorado final month, Harrington leads by one stroke over defending champion Ok.J. Choi of South Korea, who hopes to turn out to be the primary participant to efficiently defend a Senior Open title since Christy O’Connor Jnr in 2000.
Talking after his second spherical on Friday, Harrington admitted:
“I rode my luck loads right now. Received my head within the recreation. Did lots of good things mentally. Brief recreation was sharp. However I did an excellent job, the place I ought to make a rating I scored, after which I obtained in hassle on loads of different holes. Hit some restoration photographs and managed my recreation, however I by no means confirmed a lot confidence on the market in any respect in my swing in any respect.
“I clearly like these 72-hole ones and the larger golf programs go well with me. I’m glad to see there’s a little little bit of moisture on this course. It’s beginning to agency up a bit. Because it’s will get slightly shorter that benefit will probably be taken away from me. I appear to be scoring okay, so possibly I’ll do it a special means this time.”
Choi carded six birdies in his spherical of 67 and the 55-year-old did maintain the lead at one level on 9 beneath par after a birdie on the 14th, however two dropped photographs on 16 and 17 noticed him slip again right into a share of second alongside 2018 European Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjørn.
Bjørn stormed into competition as he carded a seven beneath par spherical of 63 after beginning the day stage par following his opening spherical. The 15-time DP World Tour winner carded seven birdies and an eagle to maneuver 41 locations up the leaderboard.
Main Champions Ernie Els and Justin Leonard, additionally aiming to put in writing their names within the historical past books as winners of each The Open and Senior Open, sit in a share of fourth place on six beneath par alongside Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina and Australia’s Cameron Percy.
Stephen Allan, additionally of Australia, and Englishman Greg Owen share eighth on 5 beneath, whereas Main winners Paul Lawrie, Corey Pavin and Y.E. Yang are amongst a clutch of golfers in a tie for tenth on 4 beneath.
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