Padraig Harrington came as close as could be to joining a select few golfers, including Darren Clarke, to have won both the the Open Championship and the Senior Open Championship.
For a neutral it was fantastic viewing with Royal Porthcawl swept up in abysmal conditions, which made for a proper links challenge.
It was these conditions that had allowed Harrington to catch up on the field in his third round - he was nine shots off the lead after the first round - and he lay just a shot behind leader Alex Cejka, with whom he played with today, heading into the final round.
Justin Thomas Was Loving The Horrendous Conditions At The Senior Open
Not gonna lie, I can’t stop watching the #SeniorOpen… A PROPER links golf weather day. It is absolute carnage for those guys and (I’m sorry) it is fun to watch haha
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) July 30, 2023
Putting at Porthcawl today just looks impossible!! 🤣🤣 Seriously abysmal conditions.
Great TV.
— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) July 30, 2023
READ HERE: Padraig Harrington Is Not Shying Away From Ryder Cup Hype After Impressing In Scotland
Harrington played his first four holes is four over, but rallied and secured a fantastic birdie on the last to finish four over for the day, and force a play-off with Cejka.
On the first play-off hole, it looked as if Harrington would seal victory, but his eagle putt from off the green just lost pace at the end and missed by millimetres.
Both men made birdie and played the 18th hole once again, but Harrington's downwind approach once again flew the green.
He looked likely to make an up-and-down but uncharacteristically duffed his chip and instead got up-and-down in three, as Cejka two-putted for a birdie and sealed victory.
Padraig Harrington Falls Just Short
Fight to the finish.
Sitting just one shot off the lead, @padraig_h hits an amazing shot into the par-5 18th @Royal_Porthcawl 👏 pic.twitter.com/bv2JfoKEgh
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) July 30, 2023
Run it back 🔙@padraig_h and Alex Cejka are headed to a second playoff hole at The Senior Open presented by Rolex. pic.twitter.com/3TiK9jix7l
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) July 30, 2023
A brutal lie and tough way to finish.@padraig_h leaves his chip short on the second playoff hole at The Open Championship presented by Rolex. pic.twitter.com/SRAoD3U7GJ
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) July 30, 2023
READ HERE: Padraig Harrington Feels There Is Just One Thing Stopping Him From Major Contention
It is the third senior major championship for the 52-year-old Cjeka, who previously won The Tradition and the Senior PGA Championship.
"I still can't believe it," the German said in is victory speech today.
"It's been a really tough week. It's been a really tough two days.
"I can't believe I'm standing with the trophy here. Seeing all those great names on the trophy, coming in here with all the pictures and everything, all the guys who won it before me, now holding it myself, it's surreal."
SEE ALSO: Dara Ó Briain Explains To BBC The Greatness Of The GAA's Tribute To Sinéad O'Connor
