KELLY WINS ISPS HANDA SENIOR OPEN AT GLENEAGLES
American Jerry Kelly with the ISPS HANDA Senior Open trophy at Gleneagles (Photo: Getty)
American Jerry Kelly held his nerve brilliantly down the stretch at Gleneagles to claim a two-shot victory at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open.
Kelly went into the final day in a share of the lead with Australia's Cameron Percy but carded a two under 68 to reach 10 under par, finishing two clear of Percy, Darren Fichardt and Matt Gogel.
“It's indescribable to win it. The Senior Claret Jug is the trophy that I've wanted as an over-50 golfer more than any other. To do it in Scotland at the Home of Golf, I'm absolutely speechless,” said Kelly after his win.
“But it's been this Scotland army out here that's been behind me that really brought me through, and I really appreciate the people for getting behind me and just lifting me up when things were going low, saying you've got this and really pulling me through. I really appreciate Scotland itself.
“My brain, actually, was the most successful part of my game. In the past I would have gotten down that I wasn't striking it the way I'd like to strike it. But instead of worrying about that, I just went and took care of the next shot.
“I learned a lot about myself today, and I wish I would have learned it about 20, 30 years ago. You're never too old to learn, and that's what really pulled me through. Hitting a couple speed putts from 90, 100 feet on a couple of those holes, it was kind of enjoyable to putt the strikes on it. You get the second putts, some of them tailed away, as well.
“I've had some issues with my back the last couple years. I'm kind of used to it. It tweaked on six and wasn’t able to take a full backswing for the rest of the day. That's over-50 golf there.
“Incredibly proud. To be on this trophy, it brings it full circle that I didn't do what I wanted to in The Open Championship but to get it done here, I mean, I'm over the moon.”
The 59-year-old got off to a blistering start and was soon three ahead, a lead he maintained at the turn. Compatriot Gogel didn't let him have it all his own way, however, as he signed for a bogey-free 63 to set the target at eight under, one back with Kelly playing the back nine.
Kelly failed to take advantage of the driveable 14th and kept leaving himself a long way from the hole, but his lag putting was magnificent, and he kept his nose in front.
As the final group stood on the 18th tee in pouring rain and Gogel watched on in the clubhouse, Kelly hit a brilliant drive down the par five and despite finding sand with his second, got up and down brilliantly for a closing birdie to secure his first Senior Major Championship in Europe.
Kelly is a three-time winner on the PGA TOUR and Presidents Cup player in 2003 before joining the senior ranks, where he now has 14 wins on the PGA TOUR Champions, including two Senior Players Championships.
Home favourite Stephen Gallacher carded the lowest round of the week, an eight under 62, to finish in fifth position on six under par.
American Taggart Ridings finished sixth at five under, one ahead of 2024 Senior Open winner KJ Choi, two-time Major Champion Zach Johnson, former Ryder Cup player Boo Weekley and Italy's Emanuele Canonica in seventh.
Defending champion Pádraig Harrington was unable to get into the mix and despite closing with a 68, the Dubliner was tied 41st on four-over. Paul McGinley was tied 55th on seven-over, while Darren Clarke missed the cut.
Final scores:
270 J KELLY (USA) 66 68 68 68,
272 M GOGEL (USA) 68 69 72 63, D FICHARDT (RSA) 70 68 68 66, C PERCY (AUS) 63 68 71 70,
274 S GALLACHER (SCO) 72 69 71 62,
275 T RIDINGS (USA) 66 72 70 67,
276 B WEEKLEY (USA) 67 74 70 65, E CANONICA (ITA) 66 76 69 65, K CHOI (KOR) 70 70 68 68, Z JOHNSON (USA) 67 73 68 68,
278 S CINK (USA) 71 72 70 65, B DREDGE (WAL) 72 70 70 66, J DONALDSON (WAL) 68 74 70 66,
279 M JIMENEZ (ESP) 65 75 72 67, H STENSON (SWE) 68 68 75 68, M CORT (ENG) 72 67 72 68, S ALKER (NZL) 67 76 68 68, A CEJKA (GER) 68 70 70 71, E ELS (RSA) 65 71 71 72, P BAKER (ENG) 69 69 67 74,
280 B VAN PELT (USA) 76 68 72 64, G HUTCHEON (SCO) 70 73 71 66, R GOOSEN (RSA) 70 71 71 68, C WI (KOR) 67 76 67 70, P PEREZ (USA) 65 75 67 73,
281 F JACOBSON (SWE) 72 68 75 66, P STANKOWSKI (USA) 70 73 70 68, M LAFEBER (NED) 71 72 69 69, T PETROVIC (USA) 69 75 66 71, S ALLAN (AUS) 69 70 70 72, M BRIER (AUT) 67 69 71 74,
282 T JAIDEE (THA) 72 70 75 65, R PAMPLING (AUS) 73 69 71 69, R GREEN (AUS) 69 73 71 69, R SABBATINI (SVK) 67 73 68 74, C DENNIS (USA) 69 72 67 74,
283 R COLES (ENG) 69 71 76 67, C FARRELLY (ENG) 70 75 71 67, M HENSBY (AUS) 69 71 73 70, P SJOLAND (SWE) 70 72 69 72,
284 R KARLSSON (SWE) 70 75 72 67, P HARRINGTON (IRL) 70 72 74 68, P PRICE (WAL) 75 68 71 70, R ARMOUR (USA) 67 72 74 71,
285 J MAGGERT (USA) 70 75 74 66, R GONZALEZ (ARG) 73 71 72 69, S KJELDSEN (DEN) 71 69 75 70, A DA SILVA (BRA) 71 73 71 70, M CAMPBELL (NZL) 71 74 70 70, M GOGGIN (AUS) 70 72 71 72,
286 S GRIFFITHS (ENG) 67 77 73 69, G OWEN (ENG) 71 74 72 69, K HORNE (RSA) 70 70 75 71, H FRAZAR (USA) 72 72 71 71,
287 J CARON (USA) 69 76 75 67, A FORSYTH (SCO) 69 74 75 69, P MCGINLEY (IRL) 68 75 74 70, P GOYDOS (USA) 70 71 72 74, T PERNICE JR (USA) 65 73 74 75,
288 V TAYLOR (USA) 74 69 72 73, J REMESY (FRA) 69 71 74 74,
289 S KHAN (ENG) 69 75 77 68, J KINGSTON (RSA) 70 73 75 71, J SINGH (IND) 67 78 73 71, P LAWRIE (SCO) 69 71 77 72, K SULLIVAN (AM) (WAL) 68 75 74 72, M WRIGHT (AUS) 66 72 78 73, T SRIROJ (THA) 72 69 73 75, J EDFORS (SWE) 66 77 70 76,
290 A MARSHALL (ENG) 71 70 79 70, D DRYSDALE (SCO) 70 75 75 70, D HOWELL (ENG) 67 76 76 71, J DURANT (USA) 71 74 73 72,
291 L ALEXANDRE (FRA) 64 73 82 72,
292 M TIZIANI (USA) 71 74 75 72, T LEVET (FRA) 71 72 76 73, G CHALMERS (AUS) 69 73 73 77,
293 M LUNDBERG (SWE) 72 71 77 73,
294 J RANDHAWA (IND) 72 73 77 72,
**
146 F AGUILAR (CHI) 70 76, S HANSEN (DEN) 71 75, S DRUMMOND (SCO) 73 73, S HEND (AUS) 72 74, J LEONARD (USA) 73 73, B ANDRADE (USA) 72 74, D PRIDE (USA) 72 74, M FOSTER (ENG) 74 72, B CRANE (USA) 75 71, M MCCOY (AM) (USA) 67 79, C SUNESON (ESP) 73 73, B LUNDE (USA) 71 75, M LONG (NZL) 71 75,
147 Y YANG (KOR) 71 76, C MONTGOMERIE (SCO) 75 72, S YOKOTA (JPN) 73 74, S DODD (WAL) 72 75, V PHILLIPS (ENG) 71 76,
148 S WHIFFIN (ENG) 72 76, K TANIGAWA (USA) 74 74, A WALL (ENG) 69 79, S APPLEBY (AUS) 72 76, J HAEGGMAN (SWE) 75 73, T GOGELE (GER) 73 75, S AMES (CAN) 70 78, C DIMARCO (USA) 69 79, D CLARKE (NIR) 71 77,
149 G ORR (SCO) 71 78, W AUSTIN (USA) 76 73, D MCGUIGAN (SCO) 72 77, S WEBSTER (ENG) 74 75, G BURNS (CAN) 73 76, H SLOCUM (USA) 71 78, S PAREL (USA) 70 79, S MICHEEL (USA) 72 77, R JACQUELIN (FRA) 76 73,
150 B GAY (USA) 74 76, B HOOPS (AM) (USA) 71 79, D BARRON (USA) 73 77, D PARK (WAL) 70 80,
151 A TANI (JPN) 77 74, K TRIPLETT (USA) 78 73, K STORGAARD (DEN) 76 75, M BROWN (NZL) 75 76, P ARCHER (ENG) 73 78, C CAMPBELL (USA) 74 77, T IWAMOTO (JPN) 71 80,
152 F FUNK (USA) 75 77, M MACKENZIE (ENG) 74 78, N FASTH (SWE) 76 76, S BERTSCH (USA) 74 78, L PORTELA (ESP) 72 80,
153 S CREED (AM) (ENG) 76 77, S LITTLE (ENG) 74 79,
154 H OTTO (RSA) 73 81, B ESTES (USA) 76 78,
155 T O'NEAL (USA) 79 76, T SAPERE (USA) 79 76, M CALCAVECCHIA (USA) 73 82, R BEEM (USA) 75 80, J SANDELIN (SWE) 73 82,
156 G MCNEILL (USA) 72 84,
157 D DUVAL (USA) 79 78,
160 R DINSDALE (WAL) 79 81,
**
OUT W DUGDALE (AM) (ENG) 69 RT,