Padraig wins his first Major title as a Senior in a gritty display down the stretch to over come his arch rival, Steve Stricker, and win the US Seniors Open. Starting the day with a five shot lead, it was never going to be easy to win the most prestigious of all the Senior titles, and so it proved. He got off to a shaky start and was out in level par but no panic as none of the field were making any inroads into his lead. That all changed in the space of two holes as Padraig dropped two shots on the 10th and 11th holes and Steve turned on the after burners to birdie six of the last eleven holes to see Padraigs lead at just one shot with three holes to play. But as he has always done down the stretch in Majors, he gutted out three closing pars to slam the door on Steve who has had his number from day one. It was a fabulous win and proves that hard work even after 50 works. A win for the ages and a gateway to more success on the Seniors Tour!
Padraig is poised to win his first Senior Major as he gave a masterclass Saturday to run away from the field at the US Seniors Open. He got off to the perfect start with two opening birdies as his predigious length played rich dividends. He birdied both par fives on the front side to be out in three under par and then went into overdrive as he picked another shot up at the 10th hole before the shot of the day, a five wood to ten feet on the par five 12th hole for eagle. His final total of 66 leaves him with many options Sunday to win but his play off the tee has been the catylist so far and we can expect that strategy to continue. His ball speed was in the 180’s which is ten miles per hour UP on PGA tour average. He plays at 2.50pm local time with Gene Sauers. Let the bombing continue!
Padraig leads his first ever US Seniors Open by one shot going into the weekend after a masterful display with his driver as he picked up six shots in a flawless round to put himself in position to add to his three Major total. On a day where he hit the ball the proverbial mile off the tee, he took full advantage to hit some superb irons and hole some tricky putts on lightening fast greens. He got off to the perfect start with two early birdies in his first three holes but missed a short putt on the reachable par four 14th where he drove it in a greenside bunker. He parred his way in before hitting an iron for his second shot onto the par five 1st hole and followed this with a nice finish of three birdies in the last five holes. All to play for with his great rival, Steve Stricker, in hot pursuit just one shot behind!
Padraig opens his account at the US Seniors Open with a fine round of level par 70. This is right in the mix on a course that is playing tough. He made only three pars on the front side as he mixed four bogeys with two birdies to be out in two over par. But he played a flawless back nine to pick up two shots and also record seven pars.
Padraig plays this week at the US Senior Open Championship. It is being played for the third time at the Saucon Valley Country Club in Pennsylvania, which turns 100 years old this year. It plays to a par of 71 and just over 7,200 yards. Padraig has played six events so far in his inaugural season and has three second places but will be hoping to go one better this week.
Tee Times – Padraig plays with Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie at 7.52am Thursday and 1.22pm Friday!