BERKSHIRE, England — Padraig Harrington birdied the final hole at Sunningdale on Saturday to card a second consecutive 5-under 65, taking a two-shot lead into the final round of the Senior Open Championship.
Seeking his second senior major title of the year, Harrington overcame a crowded leaderboard by making crucial birdies on the 13th and 14th holes before his strong finish moved him to 13-under 197. The Irishman won the U.S. Senior Open one month ago.
His nearest challenger is Justin Leonard, who also posted a 65 to sit at 11-under. The final pairing sets up a duel between past Open champions, with Leonard having won in 1997 and Harrington securing back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008. A victory for either would make them only the fifth player to win both The Open and its senior counterpart.
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn is three shots off the lead after a third-round 67. Farther back, a group including two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner Steven Alker sits five strokes behind at 8-under.
In addition to the title, the winner will earn an exemption into the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale next year.
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