Harrington lurking just two shots off lead in US Senior Open defence
Padraig Harrington plays his tee shot on the first hole during the second round of the 2026 U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, July 3, 2026. (Edward M. Pio Roda/USGA)
Padraig Harrington is prepared to do whatever it takes to win his third US Senior Open after moving to within two shots of the lead at halfway.
The Dubliner, who turns 55 next month, fired a three-under 67 to sit alone in second place behind leader George McNeill at Scioto Country Club in Ohio.
Harrington feels he’s been too tentative with his approach play so far, but he’s been excellent on the greens.
While he hopes to pull it all together, he knows he has the experience to find a way to get over the line and retain his title.
“I said a while ago I turned the corner with my putting,” he said after making four birdies and a bogey in a 28-putt round. “It's showing up very nicely.
“I'm going to keep trying to stay in that mode, but I'd like to free up a little bit with my approach shots.
“It's hard not to be tentative at times out there. The pin positions at times, it's a US Open, so you don't want to make mistakes. So you have to choose your battles.
“Obviously with 36 holes to go, hopefully I play with a little bit more freedom, a little bit more confidence.”
Having won the title in 2022 and again last year, he knows he doesn’t have to be perfect and insisted he’d try to find a way.
“Look, as I said, I'd like to play well on the weekend, but if I don't play well, I'm going to try to win this tournament another way,” he said.
“I've seen it before. It doesn't mean I have any perfect ability to deal with it. I've certainly seen all these situations.
“So I won't be surprised by anything, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to handle it that well either.”
As for his second round, where he birdied the second, 11th and 12th and followed a bogey at the 16th with a birdie two at the 17th, he wasn’t complaining.
“I stole one or two yesterday,” he said. “Today I walk off the golf course going, it probably was about right.”
McNeill shot a best-of-the-day 66 to lead by two shots on six under from Harrington and by three from Stewart Cink (70) and Charlie Wi (70) and 2016 joint-runner-up Miguel Angel Jimenez (68).
Qualifier Chris Devlin (68) from Ballymena, a former college teammate of 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell, shares sixth with Henrik Stenson (67), Ben Crane (70), Tommy Gainey (69), Ian Poulter (69), Stephen Ames (69) and Alex Cejka.
Darren Clarke is 41st on three over after a 72.
