Padraig Harrington won the Senior Open for the first time on Sunday, just a month after winning the US Senior Open following an impressive career on the PGA Tour
Padraig Harrington’s revelations about finding success on the PGA Tour Champions could prompt Rory McIlroy to reconsider his future plans for the senior circuit. The Dubliner claimed his maiden Senior Open triumph on Sunday, coming just weeks after his US Senior Open victory in June.
The 53-year-old, who won three majors during his PGA Tour career, has become a dominant force on the Champions Tour with 11 victories under his belt since arriving on the circuit in 2022.
Following his Sunningdale success, where he carded a brilliant 16-under total, the Irish ace joined an elite group as just the fifth player to capture both the Senior Open and The Open Championship.
Harrington now sits alongside golfing legends Darren Clarke, Tom Watson, Gary Player, and Bob Charles in this exclusive club, whilst also becoming only the third Irishman to lift the trophy after Clarke and Christy O’Connor Jr.
Speaking to Sky Sports following his triumph, the former world No. 3 reflected on his ambitions to keep building his professional legacy after more than three decades in the game, reports Belfast Live.
“Right now, I am just thrilled to have won the tournament,” he said. “Having won The Open and going on to win the Senior Open, one of five players, you want to be in that category. I think they’re the things you realise over the coming days, the significance of it.
“Right now, I am just thrilled and a bit euphoric about getting it done. As I said, as you get older you realise the legacy of what you have done. You want to win at a great golf course like Sunningdale, you want to do things that stand out.
“Having won an Open and coming now and winning the Senior Open, it does give some validation. It’s certainly satisfying.” His remarks could present McIlroy with a quandary, given that just this March the Northern Irishman emphatically ruled out any prospect of competing on the PGA Tour Champions upon reaching 50.
“Absolutely not,” the Masters champion declared with a grin when questioned about that possibility. A conversation arose regarding the challenge of retiring from golf, and when the Champions Tour was mentioned, McIlroy was unambiguous about his intention to avoid the circuit.
“Look, I’ve said a lot of absolutes in my time that I’ve walked back,” the 36-year-old admitted. “But I do not envision playing Champions Tour golf. Something has gone terribly wrong if I have to compete at golf at 50.”
Regarding finances, McIlroy sits just behind Tiger Woods with the second-highest earnings in PGA Tour history, having accumulated £79million in prize money in his career thus far.
He’s over £8m ahead of LIV Golf star Phil Mickelson who sits currently in third and almost £13m ahead of four-time major champion Scottie Scheffler who captured his first Open Championship title this past week.
Nevertheless, there might come a moment when the Northern Irishman potentially reverses his stance in pursuit of further historical achievements, much like Harrington.