Berkshire, England – Padraig Harrington birded the final hole on Friday with a 5-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead at the Senior British Open, where he won the second senior major title of the year.
Defending champion KJ Choi led the second half of the second round on Sunningdale’s old course before winning bogeys on the 16th and 17th. Choi had to settle for 67, with 63 Thomas Bjorn on one shot.
Harrington is about to become the fifth player to win the British Open and the Senior British Open.
“You should have made the score I scored, and then I was troubled by a lot of other holes,” Harrington said. “I managed the game by hitting a few recovery shots, but I never showed much confidence in my swing. I obviously like these 72 holes and the big golf course is right for me.”
The Senior British Open is the fifth major for the PGA Tour champions. The regular tournament is 54 holes. Harrington won the US Senior Open in Broadmoor, Colorado.
Bjorn was an angry Dane on Friday, working in his favour. He was furious at himself for ruining a good start in the opening round with three bogeys in the final four holes. He led that frustration to four birdies on the first five holes. He made the Eagle at 320 yards 11. And after dropping shots on 16 and 17 holes, he finished with a birdie.
“I was just out here in that mode that I know I played a lot yesterday and I was hitting the ball a lot. “I wanted to get off to the start and hit a great shot in two, but that wasn’t like a birdie I was given, and then I hit some good shots from there.
“The first 12 holes were an absolute joy.”
Among the two shots behind were Ernie Els and Justin Leonard, who opened the British Open at the Royal Portrush last week.