Padraig Harrington made it a three-peat of DICK's Sporting Goods Open titles on the PGA Tour Champions and needed one of the putts of his career to get the job done.
Harrington, recently inducted into the World Golf Hall Of Fame, won the title by a single stroke thanks to an epic birdie in his final round on Sunday.
The veteran plays most of his golf on the senior tour these days, where he has been a top contender in already winning a major championship - The US Senior Open - among seven titles prior to this weekend.
He added the eighth of his senior career in a hard-fought victory, fending off competition from former Masters winner Mike Weir and Stephen Ames.
The three-time major winner hit a bomb of a tee shot on 18, before nailing a par on the final hole to win the title by a single stroke.
The winning moment for @Padraig_H 🏆
It’s his 8th PGA TOUR Champions victory @DicksOpenGolf. pic.twitter.com/IScTh36gc6— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) June 23, 2024
Padraig Harrington sinks huge putt en route to latest win
However, his epic 70-yard putt at the sixth hole was the pick of the bunch as he ensured his status as one of the elite players in senior golf.
Harrington had been tied for the lead with playing partner Ames when he drained a cracker of a putt to heap the pressure on his rival.
Paddy drains it from 70 feet.
Ames responds with a chip-in!
The co-leaders are going back and forth @DicksOpenGolf 👀 pic.twitter.com/YUZtsdnR2S— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) June 23, 2024
Ames responded with a moment of class of his own, to his credit.
He has claimed $315,000 for his efforts and for the third year on the spin, bringing his earnings from his three appearances to just shy of seven figures at $945,000.
Harrington has become the first player on Tour to three-peat an event since Bernhard Langer back in 2016.
He won the title in his debut season before carding a ridiculous back-nine to retain his crown 12 months ago.
It is a timely confidence boost for Harrington, who has battled injuries this season, ahead of The Open in Royal Troon next month.
The Rathfarnham native is bidding to become the oldest major winner in golf history and add a third crown to his Open wins in 2007 and 2008.
Nobody has retained the title since Harrington did so at Royal Birkdale 16 years ago.
