Article author:
Reuters
Ireland's Padraig Harrington has completed two rounds at the US Senior Open in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, maintaining a one-shot lead to win his first career, the PGA Tour Champions.
Harrington, 50, recorded a bogey-free 6 under 65 at the Sokon Valley Country Club on Friday, remaining 6 under 136 overall.
Steve Stricker shot a 2-under 69, and he is just behind Harrington with a 5-under. Another strokeback is Robra Blitz, who posted the second straight 69. (69) and Steven Alker (67) of New Zealand are tied for 4th with 3 unders.
Another first-round co-leader, Mark Hensby of Australia, shot 73 on Friday, tying 9th with 2 unders. He is on the same level as Doug Baron (68) and Alex Cheska (69) in Germany.
Harrington started with the 10th birdie and had two consecutive birdies.
"I was below the norm early on," he said. "I felt a little lost in the middle of the round, but then came back strong. You sometimes work a little too hard ....
" Go back to the end where you felt pretty comfortable It's nice to see him coming. "
Harrington, who won three majors on the PGA Tour and the European Tour, got off to a strong start at the first US Senior Open.
"It's a much stronger test than expected," he said. "This is a much more difficult way than a regular Champions Tour event. I knew at the beginning of the week that this was a big advantage for me. From the rough, both in length and even if I was in the rough. It's both possible to play. "
Stricker opened with a birdie, but there was a double bogey on the 6th hole of the par 5. He continued nine consecutive pars before finishing Birdie-Birdy-Birdie.
"I had some opportunities on my back that I couldn't do myself, but I asked his brother-in-law Mario, who was a caddy, to come one or two. In the last three holes, "said Stricker. "I wasn't thinking of three. Maybe I should.
" Yeah, I just really wanted to go back for the day and birdie the last three It was a good way to end the day. "
Defending champion Jim Furyk barely made a cut after shooting 76. He was tied for 54th place with 5 overs.
– Field-level media
