KJ Choi finished in style to claim a two-shot victory at the Senior Open as Padraig Harrington rued a disastrous start to his final round.
Choi held a five-shot lead at one point during his third round at Carnoustie only to suffer two successive double bogeys on holes 15 and 16.
The 54-year-old recovered to birdie the final hole of his third round, but three bogeys in his first six holes of his final round saw him fall behind Australian Richard Green.
But a birdie on the ninth hole gave the South Korean a boost, followed by birdies on holes 10, 12 and 13 before an eagle on the par-five 14th.
Choi posted a final round of 70 to finish on ten under par and a two-shot victory over Green, with Paul Broadhurst in third place on six under par.
“Today’s match was incredible. I’ve been praying all week,” said the champion.
“However, I started off very nervous and with some speed and difference and three bogeys after the sixth. Still, I kept my attention and prayed. A little more, I feel better working, there is more fire and the swing is more comfortable.
“Before that, I had a bad start, or worse, but today the feeling is a little bit different and after 7, 8, a little bit better, and then 9 is starting to make birdie. Good… so be patient today.
“We don’t know. Yesterday we said birdie: one bogey, two double bogeys and one over par. Even today, a couple of under par scores at best. I’m doing very well, I’m hitting well and the putting is really more concentrated.
“Consecutive birdies on 9 and 10. That’s why we’re on a roll today.”
Harrington has been a dominant force in senior golf and was looking to win his first Senior Open this week after two consecutive second-place finishes.
But the Dubliner’s aggressive approach on the Scottish links sometimes got him into trouble off the tee.
Harrington began his final round on two under par and needed a fast start to trouble the leaders; he got off to a disastrous start as bunker problems caused him to make a triple bogey 7 on the first hole before making double bogey on the second hole.
To his credit, Harrington responded with three birdies on the front nine, along with four birdies on the back nine, combined with two bogeys to post a par round and finish tied for fifth.
“That’s what happens in this game,” Harrington said. “I knew I had to push myself today. I think even after that, out of the two eagle opportunities, I had three good eagle opportunities there. I could have made a few more putts.”
“But the good news for me is that KJ has taken the title, which is a good thing. I wouldn’t want to finish today and win six under par, seven under par; it would have been a disappointing day.”
Former Senior Open champion Darren Clarke carded a final round of 72 to finish one over par in the tournament.
The 2022 champion finished tied for 13th after finding too many fairway bunkers on a course that once again proved to be the toughest test of the Open rotation.
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