Playoff blues for Padraig as his arch nemisis, Steve Stricker, beats him on the first tie hole to win his second Major of the year on the senior tour. Saturday was the day that Padraig felt he should have got away from the field as he played some sublime golf but leading by one going into Sunday against one of the all time great short game exponants was always going to be tough. He got off to the perfect start with a couple of birdies early at the two par fives and added another at the 7th hole to go two clear but a bogey at the par three 8th hole had him one ahead turning for home. A Stricker chip in on 11 for birdie and a dropped shot by Padraig at 12 shifted the momentum and he needed a birdie at the last to set up a playoff. He reached the long par five 18th in two and forced the playoff but found the hazard off the tee in the playoff and even a miraculous fourth shot from 285 yards to twenty feet wasn’t enough as he failed to convert with Stricker in the hole for a par! Some great golf played by Padraig over the week and much to look forward to for the season ahead!
Padraig continues to lead heading into the final round in Texas by one shot from the chasing pack. He was the model of consistency, yet again, as he reeled off four birdies on his front nine and added another on the par four 12th. But disaster struck on the par four 16th where he made a double bogey but he finished well with a birdie on the last to set up a fascinating rematch with Steve Stricker in the final round!
Padraig heads for the weekend in Texas with a three shot lead in the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. He is attempting to add the Senior version to the PGA Championship he won back in 2008. He again played very solid golf with three birdies going out and one coming home and has gone 36 holes with out a bogey! He opened up on the back nine with four straight pars before making those three birdies in five holes, two of which were par 5’s. He remained rock solid on the front nine with eight pars and that lone birdie, Major Championship golf which he hopes will continue into the weekend!
Padraig opens his account at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship with a blistering round of 64 to lead by two. The current US Senior Open Champion, recorded eight birdies in total including nine 3’s on his card! He got off to a fast start with a long range putt at the second and followed that with birdies on the 3rd, 6th and 9th holes to turn in four under par. A chip in on ten kept the momentum going and he finished in a blaze of glory with birdies on the 15th, 16th and 18th holes. Good start to a Major Championship!
Padraig plays this week at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, his third major in three weeks!
Tee Times – Padraig plays in the opening round at 8.05am local time with Steve Alker and Rocco Mediate.