Harrington, an envoy for title companion ISPS HANDA, is the third Irish winner of the Senior Open, after Clarke and the late Christy O’Connor Jnr, a two-time winner.
“As you grow old you realise quite a lot of issues, [including] legacy,” he stated.
“You need to win on an important golf course like Sunningdale, you need to do issues that stand out and having gained The Open, and now successful the Senior Open it does give some validation. It’s definitely satisfying to do it, prolong your profession that means.
“There are some nice names on the trophy. I used to be wanting on the board inside with all of the winners and it’s a deep sense of satisfaction understanding that I’ve performed each.”
After twice ending as a runner-up, together with on his Senior Open debut in 2022, Harrington admitted time was of the essence as he sought to affix an unique membership.
“You come to this stage of your profession and there’s solely a sure window,” he added.
“You’ll be able to win in a while as a senior however the window is as much as 55-56 they are saying, so that you need to get it performed.
“Having had a few second locations, I didn’t need to depart it too lengthy.”
FINAL ROUND
Beginning the day with a two-shot lead after successive rounds of 65, Harrington capitalised on discovering the inexperienced on the first in two by holing the putt for his first eagle of the week to maneuver three clear as taking part in companion Leonard made a birdie.
Harrington has spoken this week about not feeling fully comfortable together with his sport, however his strategy play was distinctive within the early phases, creating good birdie probabilities on the second, third and fourth.
Whereas he was unable to reap the benefits of these, the 53-year-old moved 4 photographs forward with a birdie putt from round 15 toes on the sixth.
After a irritating three-putt bogey on the eighth, Harrington and Leonard birdied the brief par 4 ninth to go away the in a single day chief 4 clear on the flip.
DON’T LOOK AT LEADERBOARDS
Enjoying within the group forward, Bjørn bought off to a gentle begin with eight pars in a row, however his spherical ignited across the flip with 4 birdies in a six-hole stretch from the ninth to briefly get inside two of the lead.
“I didn’t know [Bjørn] did it, I by no means take a look at leaderboards,” stated Harrington when requested how conscious he was of the momentum the Dane was constructing.
“The one time I noticed a leaderboard was on 18. I requested Ronan [Flood, his caddie] on 17 what was my lead, and by no means checked out a leaderboard.
“I used to be totally centered on what I used to be doing.”
Harrington all the time appeared in management, displaying his contact across the inexperienced on the par 5 14th to rise up and down for birdie and transfer three clear once more.
Whereas Bjørn misplaced floor together with his first bogey of the day on the sixteenth, Harrington might afford to drop a stroke on the seventeenth after discovering the greenside bunker together with his strategy and nonetheless take a three-shot lead as Leonard additionally made bogey.
After discovering the golf green on the 18th, he allowed himself a smile and duly wrapped up victory with an assured two-putt par as he was met by rapturous applause.
Scott Hend completed solo fourth at 12 below after a closing 65, a rating matched by countryman Cameron Percy who was alongside Ernie Els a shot additional again.
