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BETHLEHEM, PA. Closing out tournaments is never an easy deal but doing so in a major event can be an especially daunting challenge.

Playing in his first U.S. Senior Open Irishman Padraig Harrington entered the final round at Saucon Valley's Old Course with a five-shot lead. Closing out matters was not that simple with former 2019 Open winner Steve Stricker applying pressure down the stretch.

What seemed at the start of the round as a foregone conclusion was anything but.

Harrington sealed his victory by holing a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 15th hole, and closing with three solid two-putt pars.

The 50-year-old carded a 1-over-par 72 for a 72-hole total of 10-under 274 to become the first player from the Republic of Ireland to hoist the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy. He also joined World Golf Hall of Famers Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus as the only multiple winners of The Open Championship to also win the U.S. Senior Open. Harrington, a three-time major champion, claimed the Claret Jug in 2007 and 2008.

“I think it's special for me to win this one just because I've never won a USGA event,” said Harrington. “I think that adds more than if you could turn around and win a different senior major. But because I was never a U.S. Open champion or a junior champion, it's great to come and win the senior one. It adds something that I never had in my career.”

Said a gracious Stricker, who captained the USA side to victory over the European side led by Harrington last September in the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits: “Hats off to him. He played great. It was close, but he was the better player this week.” Harrington's career has been often neglected -- sandwiched between the top Euro players from the previous generation with the likes of Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam -- to those competing on the PGA Tour now with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry leading the way. 

Harrington did win three major championships in his career but it's been pointed out that when Padraig claimed The Open and PGA Championships in the same year in 2008 -- Woods was not in the field because of surgery to his broken leg following his epic win the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Would the presence of Woods have changed matters? No one will ever be able to say with certainty but it should not diminish the achievement Harrington earned. 

What the Champion Receives
-Custody of the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy for one year
-A gold medal
-Exemptions into the next 10 U.S. Senior Opens
-Exemption into the 2023 U.S. Open at The Los Angeles Country Club
-First-place prize of $720,000

When Harrington faced Stricker last year in the Ryder Cup, the younger and more highly ranked American team simply vanquished Harrington's European Tour by a score of 19-9. Harrington faced pushback on a range of fronts tied to his decisions regarding pairings and positioning of his line-up. In fairness, the juggernaut presented by a younger and deeper USA squad was no match for a European team that was outplayed. The final result would likely not have changed no matter who captained the Euro squad that week.

Harrington's win returns the spotlight on his sterling career. Having turned professional in 1995, he has won 15 times on the European Tour and six times on the PGA Tour.  How good has Padraig been on the world stage? He spent over 300 weeks in the world top ten between 2001 and 2010 -- achieving his best ranking of third following his second Open Championship victory. The Irishman was also a member of six consecutive Euro Ryder Cup teams.

This is the first time in 25 years that the U.S. Senior Open (Padraig Harrington), U.S. Open (Matt Fitzpatrick) and U.S. Women’s Open (Minjee Lee) were all won by non-Americans. In 1997, the three champions were Ernie Els (U.S. Open), Graham Marsh (U.S. Senior Open) and Alison Nicholas (U.S. Women’s Open).

Harrington's schedule will now turn to key European events coming up with the Irish Open, Scottish Open and The Open Championship at St. Andrews, which is celebrating the 150^th playing. Harrington is one of only seven players since the end of World War II to successfully defend his Open title with his triumphs in 2007 and 2008.

In 2022, Harrington started playing on the PGA Tour Champions -- finishing second to Stricker in his first Seniors major -- The Tradition. Claiming victory over the star from Wisconsin at Saucon Valley provided a meaningful payback. 

Saucon Valley hosted a record 3^rd U.S. Senior Open and a sixth USGA Championship.

“I really appreciated the type of week it was. The USGA set up a fabulous course, much tougher than I had expected. I knew that would play into my hands, but it was a tough golf course. Saucon Valley is excellent. Obviously, there's a lot of pressure on this type of style of golf course when you're leading. You don't want to make a mistake. It was definitely a tension-filled day.”

A day that showcased two gifted golfers battling down the stretch with only one man emerging triumphantly.

For Harrington it means his Irish eyes are indeed smiling now.

BETHLEHEM, PA. - Results from Sunday's final round of the 2022 U.S. Senior Open Championship, played at 6,997-yard, par-71 Saucon Valley Country Club (Old Course).