| -ten D Clarke (NI); -9 P Harrington (Ireland); -8 M Molina (Arg), D Barren (US), E Els (SA), S Alker (NZ), P Broadhurst (Eng) T Jaidee (Thai); -seven C Montgomerie (Sco) |
| Others selected: -5 P Lawrie (Sco), Ye Yang (Kor); -4 B Langer (All); -3 R Goosen (South Africa) |
Darren Clarke clinched his first Senior Open title with a shot from Ireland’s Padraig Harrington at Gleneagles.
The 53-year-old from Northern Ireland birdied the 18th hole in Sunday’s final round to score a 69 and finish 10 under.
Club leader Harrington had collected six birdies in a stunning back nine to shoot 67, but it wasn’t enough to deny Clarke a first senior major.
Clarke becomes only the fourth man to win the Open and the Senior Open after Gary Player, Bob Charles and Tom Watson.
The Dungannon man, who won the Open in 2011, was an overnight co-leader with England’s Paul Broadhurst and although he bogeyed the 10th, he squarely led after a birdie two holes later .
He had completed 13 holes when play was suspended for more than two hours after a deluge hit the Scottish course.
Clarke’s ex-Ryder Cup captain Harrington dropped three shots in a frustrating front nine before the Dubliner hit his best form to head home in 30, a birdie the last seeing him join Clarke in the lead.
But Clarke kept her cool on the par five 18th with a perfectly weighted long-range putt giving her a tap-in to secure a four and the win.
“This one is going to sit proudly next to the other Claret Jug,” Clarke said.
“After winning the Open in 2011 and continuing to play and when I turned 50, this was the one I wanted more than any other tournament, just to be able to say I won both. “
Broadhurst and Ernie Els were part of a six-man field to finish two shots off the pace on eight under.
