Harrington highlights Tom Watson quality he aims to emulate after another clash with Stewart Cink

Originally posted on HITC | By Guadalupe Carniel | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 8:48 AM ET

Some of the most memorable Open Championship moments stem from narratives that go well beyond the leaderboard — and few stories resonate like Tom Watson’s near-miss at Turnberry in 2009.

Watson, 59 at the time, looked set to complete one of golf’s most remarkable stories, needing par at the last to become the oldest major winner in history. Instead, the closing bogey opened the door for Stewart Cink, who steadied himself to win the playoff and leave Watson just shy of his sixth Claret Jug.

Padraig Harrington noted how it all came full circle with Cink in 2009 & 2022

Fast-forward 13 years, and Harrington found himself in a duel with Cink at the 2022 US Senior Open – with the Irishman this time coming out on top, adding a second senior major to a glittering career that already includes two Open titles.

Reflecting on his form, and on whether he could draw inspiration from what Watson achieved, Harrington pointed to a mental quality in Watson’s game that he most admires – and hopes to emulate.

“Right now, I feel physically in better shape [compared to 2009],” Harrington told Golf Channel. “Before that, even in 2019, I was really struggling.

“Mentally, I’m probably in a better place now too. But you do go through phases. Tom Watson, I played with him around that time. Mentally, he was so good. He hit every shot like there was no downside.

“Physically, I might be in a better place now, even compared to then. But mentally, you do go through phases. A lot of it comes from getting used to being under pressure again, trying to get back to that level.”

Harrington, now 53, remains a longshot to win again, but his Champions Tour form has hinted at a revival. And as Watson showed, age doesn’t always have the final word – especially on links land.

No matter the odds, Harrington remains hungry, determined to believe — and to create his own chance, even if it’s just a glimpse, in the game’s oldest championship.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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