Harrington, an ambassador for title partner ISPS HANDA, is the third Irish winner of the Senior Open, after Clarke and the late Christy O’Connor Jnr, a two-time winner.
“As you get older you realise a lot of things, [including] legacy,” he said.
“You want to win on a great golf course like Sunningdale, you want to do things that stand out and having won The Open, and now winning the Senior Open it does give some validation. It is certainly satisfying to do it, extend your career that way.
“There are some great names on the trophy. I was looking at the board inside with all the winners and it’s a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that I’ve done both.”
After twice finishing as a runner-up, including on his Senior Open debut in 2022, Harrington admitted time was of the essence as he sought to join an exclusive club.
“You come to this stage of your career and there’s only a certain window,” he added.
“You can win later on as a senior but the window is up to 55-56 they say, so you want to get it done.
“Having had a couple of second places, I didn’t want to leave it too long.”
FINAL ROUND
Starting the day with a two-shot lead after successive rounds of 65, Harrington capitalised on finding the green at the first in two by holing the putt for his first eagle of the week to move three clear as playing partner Leonard made a birdie.
Harrington has spoken this week about not feeling completely at ease with his game, but his approach play was exceptional in the early stages, creating good birdie chances at the second, third and fourth.
While he was unable to take advantage of those, the 53-year-old moved four shots ahead with a birdie putt from around 15 feet at the sixth.
After a frustrating three-putt bogey at the eighth, Harrington and Leonard birdied the short par four ninth to leave the overnight leader four clear at the turn.
DON’T LOOK AT LEADERBOARDS
Playing in the group ahead, Bjørn got off to a steady start with eight pars in a row, but his round ignited around the turn with four birdies in a six-hole stretch from the ninth to briefly get within two of the lead.
“I didn’t know [Bjørn] did it, I never look at leaderboards,” said Harrington when asked how aware he was of the momentum the Dane was building.
“The only time I saw a leaderboard was on 18. I asked Ronan [Flood, his caddie] on 17 what was my lead, and never looked at a leaderboard.
“I was fully focused on what I was doing.”
Harrington always appeared in control, showing his touch around the green at the par five 14th to get up and down for birdie and move three clear again.
While Bjørn lost ground with his first bogey of the day at the 16th, Harrington could afford to drop a stroke at the 17th after finding the greenside bunker with his approach and still take a three-shot lead as Leonard also made bogey.
After finding the fairway at the 18th, he allowed himself a smile and duly wrapped up victory with an assured two-putt par as he was met by rapturous applause.
Scott Hend finished solo fourth at 12 under after a closing 65, a score matched by countryman Cameron Percy who was alongside Ernie Els a shot further back.
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