At the U.S. Senior Open in Colorado Springs, Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington found themselves tied for the lead after completing their second rounds on Friday at The Broadmoor. Both major champions posted a combined 6-under 134, setting the stage for a tense weekend battle at the demanding course.
Despite arriving at the same score, their paths to the top were quite different. Harrington began his round with a strong front nine, shooting 31 on the more challenging back nine to open a five-shot advantage. However, Cink responded with an equally impressive 31 on his back nine, shrinking the gap and ultimately catching Harrington by the turn of the weekend.
Course Challenges Shape Competition at Cheyenne Mountain
Cink’s performance was marked by hitting all 18 greens in regulation for the round and an impressive 35 of 36 for the week so far. Still, he downplayed the importance of this statistic, highlighting the greater challenges presented by the course’s treacherous greens angled away from a monument on Cheyenne Mountain.
You don’t want to be chipping downhill on this course, it’s not a secret,
said Cink, who captured the Open Championship in 2009 and is competing in his first U.S. Senior Open. —Stewart Cink, Golfer
After Harrington’s strong start, including a birdie on the par-5 third hole to maintain a five-shot cushion, he initially sensed a chance to pull away. However, two costly three-putts — on the seventh and the fourth green, which has been slowed due to its severe slope — led to bogeys that cut into his lead.
Cink’s Birdie on Ninth Hole Levels the Scores
The turning point came on the par-5 ninth, where Cink’s precise approach shot left him with a 45-foot putt. He calmly two-putted for birdie, moving to 6 under. His first putt also gave Harrington a valuable read, enabling the Irishman—who won the U.S. Senior Open in 2022 and boasts titles from the 2007 and 2008 Open Championships and the 2008 PGA Championship—to save birdie from a tricky bunker position and tie the scores.
I got a lovely read off Stewart. I don’t think I would have given it as much break, so that was nice,
Harrington remarked.
They’re the breaks you get when things are going well.
Weather Delays and Broader Tournament Standings
As both players completed their rounds, dark clouds gathered, and shortly after their final putts, a horn signaled a one-hour weather delay. Despite the pause, Cink and Harrington finished two strokes ahead of the first-round co-leader, Mark Hensby, whose afternoon round was also interrupted by the weather.
Meanwhile, Y.E. Yang, who won the 2009 PGA Championship, remained on course at 2 under, while a group of five others shared the same score and awaited their tee time.
Mutual Respect Between Two Long-Hitting Champions
Cink and Harrington stand out on the PGA TOUR Champions as the only two players who average over 300 yards off the tee, a factor that may contribute to their neck-and-neck competition heading into the weekend.
I love watching him play, Cink said with admiration.
I would hope that he probably feels similarly about me. We have mutual respect for each other. He’s a world-class player and he’s been doing it a long time. I would love it if we could go the distance here.
What Lies Ahead for the U.S. Senior Open Finale
With Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington tied atop the leaderboard as the U.S. Senior Open approaches its critical weekend rounds, fans can expect an intense duel between two experienced champions. Given their shot-making skills and course knowledge, their battle promises to be a defining moment at Broadmoor, where the unique challenges of Cheyenne Mountain continue to test every aspect of their games.
The weather conditions and the delay add another layer of unpredictability going forward, further emphasizing the importance of mental toughness. Observers will be watching closely to see if either player can seize control or if this tight contest will continue into Sunday’s final holes. The outcome is poised to be one of the highlights of the PGA TOUR Champions season.