Padraig Harrington Becomes Just 5th Player To Win Senior Open and Open Championship

Padraig Harrington spoke to the media following his 3rd Senior Major title at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open.

Podrick, many many congratulations. An incredible feat you’ve accomplished and and a very small and exclusive club. Uh tell us how you’re feeling as you clutch that trophy. I’m I’m thrilled to have won but very satisfied about the fact that I’ve won a senior open with with obviously my two opens. H the fact that five people have only ever done it is is quite special. H you know I’m quite proud of the fact that I’ve managed to survive this long in the game. longevity. You know, at this stage, I think we look for a lot of things about our legacy in the game. So, the fact that only I’m the fifth person to have done that double h that’s pretty special. I want to talk to you about before you even made it to the first T. I was watching on the range for over an hour going full bore, it’s like you had a score to settle with your driver. I I’ve been struggling this week. I’ve been really struggling with my coordination. I’ve been spinning out of it and and just can’t get my arms to keep up. body was going too quick and just trying to I was just trying to find a good mental tour for the golf course. Uh which was fine on the golf course. Maybe the the first shot I hit was nice. Second shot I hit was nice. Then started hitting some really beautiful shots and uh you know I just got into a nice rhythm. It slowed everything down and it seemed to work nicely. You mentioned earlier that you weren’t in the best place at times mentally. Was that before you got to the first or during the round? Oh, I was good mentally really. I was, you know, my expectations were low. I just I was hitting I was struggling with my driver. Everything else was pretty good. Struggling with my driver. So, uh, you know, I think when you are struggling, your expectations go down and you can you can be better mentally and I certainly was excellent all day mentally. Uh, and and to be honest, I played play I hit it a lot better than I thought. I played a lot better than I thought. I’m sure from the outside it was it looked pretty simple and to be honest most of the day it was. From the outside looking in it looked like you were just on cruise control. Did you ever allow yourself the the moment just to relax because I know you didn’t look at the leaderboard today? No, I I I don’t want to relax. That’s that has cost me in the past. Uh one of my worst traits is when I lost a senior PJ a few weeks ago by relaxing. uh I get ahead of myself and and you know sometimes when it’s an easy shot, easy T- shot, I can I can lose focus. So I I want to stay hyped up. And to be honest, I think today because I wasn’t comfortable with my swing, I never let my guard down. I was always into it and focused uh all day. And yeah, I I think that that fear really does help me. and and certainly I’m not one for wanting to to be to be relaxed out there cuz I don’t think any of my best performance has ever happened that way. You speak about fear. Did fourth call ever come into your mind at all? No, but I you know, I’ve been reminded I took second place in a fifth place. You know, you start finishing in those positions and all of a sudden it becomes a bit of a millstone around your neck if you know what I mean. If you just you want to get this win across the line early. uh you know the the golden age for winning as on the Champions Tour is kind of up to about 55 56. So uh didn’t want to leave it a few more years or it would get tougher and tougher. I I don’t know if you’re aware a very friendly familiar face was here at the golf course earlier today for about five holes and then he he had to shoot because I think he got recognized a few times. Rory was here to offer his support. What is that? Was he I didn’t see him out there. Was he out there? There you go. He was not not a beard but incognito. I didn’t I had my head down all day now. I never saw anybody. So, uh, yeah. Uh, I I had no idea. How are you going to celebrate this incredible victory? Uh, in style, I’m sure. Uh, finish up these things and we’ll we’ll we’ll start going at it. Many many congratulations. Thank you.