Padraig Harrington rues mistakes as KJ Choi wins Senior Open with birdie blitz
Choi had a five-shot lead at one point during his third round at Carnoustie only to suffer two successive double bogeys on the 15th and 16th holes
KJ Choi finished in style to claim a two-shot victory at the Senior Open as Padraig Harrington rued a disastrous start to his final round.
Choi had a five-shot lead at one point during his third round at Carnoustie only to suffer two successive double bogeys on the 15th and 16th holes.
The 54-year-old rallied to birdie the final hole of his third round, but three bogeys in his opening six holes of his final round saw him fall behind Australian Richard Green.
But a birdie on the 9th hole prompted the South Korean to catch fire as birdies on the 10th, 12th and 13th holes followed before he eagled the par five 14th.
Choi recorded a final round of 70 to finish on ten-under-par for a two-shot victory over Green, with Paul Broadhurst in third place on six-under-par.
"It’s unbelievable, today’s game. I have all this week I pray,” said the champion.
“Either way starting very nervous and some speed and difference and three bogeys after six. Still keep attention and pray. A little more, I feel more better working, there’s more fire and the swing is more comfortable.
“Before then in the bad start, or worse, but today is a little different feel and after 7, 8, a little more better, and then No. 9 is starting birdie. Okay.. so keep patient today.
“So we don’t know. Yesterday we said birdie — one bogey, two double-bogey and over-par finish. Even today, a couple under par finish in the best scenario. I’m so great, and I’m hitting well and putting is really more focused.
“Back-to-back birdies on 9 and 10. That’s why momentum today.”
Harrington has been a dominant force in senior golf and was looking to win his first Senior Open this week after two consecutive second place finishes.
But the Dubliner's aggressive approach on the Scottish links sometimes got him in trouble off the tee.
Starting his final round on two-under-par and needing a fast start to trouble the leaders, Harrington had a disastrous start as bunker trouble saw him card a triple-bogey 7 on the 1st hole before he double-bogeyed the second hole.
To his credit, Harrington fired back with three birdies on the front nine, along with four birdies on the back nine, mixed with two bogeys to shoot a level-par round and finish in a tie for fifth place.
"That's what happens in this game," Harrington said. "I knew I had to push today. I think even after that, the couple of eagle chances, I had three good eagle chances there. I could have slipped a few more putts in.
"But the good news for me is KJ has run away with it, which is a nice thing. I would hate to be finishing up today and six under par, seven under par was winning; it was would have been a disappointing day."
Former Senior Open champion Darren Clarke carded a final round of 72 to finish on one-over-par for the tournament.
The 2022 champion ended in a tie for 13th place after finding too many fairway bunkers on a course that once again showed itself to be the toughest test on the Open rota.
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