The Senior Open returns to the magnificent King’s Course at Gleneagles with all eyes on Ireland Padraig Harrington, who returns as the defending champion and has just won the US Senior Open.
The three-time Major winner – who now also holds four Senior Major titles – became just the fifth player to win both The Open Championship and the Senior Open as he cruised to a three-shot victory at Sunningdale last year, adding his name to a roll of honour which includes Darren Clarke, Bob Charles, Gary Player and Tom Watson. He loves the game as much now as when he began his journey - this is his eighth tournament in a row!
Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography
Harrington said: “It was incredibly special to win the Senior Open for the first time and I’m excited to visit Gleneagles to defend my title. There are some great names on the trophy, and I feel honoured to have my name included as one of those who have won both the Senior Open trophy and the Claret Jug.
“The King’s Course at Gleneagles is a magnificent golf course and is one that will test every part of your game. I’m looking forward to the challenge and teeing it up in Scotland again.”
Gleneagles will host the tournament for the second time, following on from 2022 when Clarke triumphed by one stroke from Harrington.
It will be the 39th edition of the Senior Open, which was first played in 1987 and brings together stars from the Legends Tour and PGA TOUR Champions, the over-50s Tours based in Europe and the United States, with a host of major champions, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup stars and winners from across the globe set to compete.
Stewart Cink, José María Olazábal and former winner Miguel Angel Jiménez are among those who will be challenging Harrington.
Cink will make his Senior Open debut and will head to Gleneagles with two Senior Major victories to his name in 2026, including the Senior PGA Championship. The American’s Major triumph came at Turnberry in 2009, where he beat Tom Watson in a four hole play-off to win the 138th Open Championship.
“I am so excited to finally get to compete in the Senior Open,” said Cink. “I have loved playing The Open for so many years, and of course the memories of 2009 are still fresh as ever. I just can’t get enough Open golf.”
Olazábal, who won the Masters in 1994 and 1999, will make his ninth Senior Open appearance in Scotland. The Spaniard has enjoyed a glittering career which has included 23 DP World Tour victories. Olazábal also captained Europe to victory at the 2012 Ryder Cup, witnessing his 12-man team overcome a four-point deficit at Medinah on the final day to seal one of the most remarkable comebacks in the competition’s history.
“I’m excited to return to Gleneagles,” said Olazábal. “The Senior Open is a great event and one which we all look forward to playing in.”
Jiménez sealed a memorable victory at the 2018 Senior Open on the Old Course at St Andrews, finishing one-stroke ahead of Bernhard Langer to capture his second Senior Major. The legendary Spaniard, who has 21 DP World Tour titles to his name, will be targeting his fourth Senior Major title.
“The Senior Open is a very special event to me and winning the Championship in 2018 on the Old Course at St Andrews is a memory I will cherish forever,” said Jiménez. “I’ve been wanting to go back to Gleneagles since we last played there in 2022 and I’m hopeful I can challenge at the top of the leaderboard this time around.”
Clarke returns to Gleneagles having etched his name into the history books during the 2022 Senior Open, where his one-stroke victory saw the Northern Irishman become, at the time, only the fourth player to win both The Open and The Senior Open. Clarke’s Major triumph came at Royal St George’s in 2011, where he finished three strokes clear of American duo Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson to become the first Northern Irishman to win The Open in more than 60 years.
“I feel honoured to have won both The Open and The Senior Open and I’m very much looking forward to going back to Gleneagles this Summer,” said Clarke. “The King’s Course at Gleneagles is a special golf course and will provide a true test. I’m looking forward to the challenge and feeding off those happy memories in Scotland again.”
Bernhard Langer joins the 2026 field as the most decorated player in Senior Open history – he has won it a record four times and his score of 18 under par, shot in 2014 at Royal Porthcawl, remains the tournament’s lowest.
The German returns to Gleneagles eyeing a 13th Senior Major Championship title, having finished in 12th position the last time the Senior Open was held at the famed Perthshire venue.
“I’m proud to have won The Senior Open on four occasions and it’s an event I always look forward to playing in,” said the two-time Masters Tournament winner. “I’m still looking for more success and I can’t wait to return to Gleneagles later this year.”
Els, a four-time Major winner, will make his fourth appearance. The South African finished last year and in a tie for third the last time the Championship visited Gleneagles. The 56-year-old was a stalwart of the International Presidents Cup side, making nine appearances, while also registering 27 DP World Tour victories and 19 wins on the PGA Tour to go alongside his four majors.
“I’m really excited for this year’s Senior Open,” said Els. “Gleneagles is an incredible venue, and it would mean a lot to me to join an exclusive club of those who have won both The Open and The Senior Open. My game is in good shape, and I hope to carry that form into the Senior Open.”
Past Tournament Winners
It was won in 2015 by Marco Dawson, in 2016 by Paul Broadhurst, in 2017 and 2019 by Bernhard Langer, in 2018 by Miguel Angel Jimenez, in 2021 by Stephen Dodd, in 2022 by Darren Clarke, in 2023 by Alex Cjeka, in 2024 by KJ Choi and last year by Padraig Harrington. There was no tournament in 2020.
Tournament Guide & Picks
The Course
The King’s Course at Gleneagles is a thing of beauty. It is a tree-lined par 70 that measures 6,471 yards and wends its way through some of the most breathtaking scenery that Scotland has to offer
Form Guide
Padraig Harrington hits the ball as far as he ever did and is full of confidence and self-belief after his US Senior Open win
Prize Money
Total prize money is $2.85m with the winner receiving around $800,000
How to Watch
Thursday, July 23, Sky Sports Golf, 1.30pm; Friday, July 24, Sky Sports Golf, 1.30pm; Saturday, July 25, Sky Sports Golf, 1.30pm; Sunday, July 26, Sky Sports Golf, 1.30pm
Five to Follow
Padraig Harrington. Fiercely competitive
Miguel Angel Jimenez. As good as ever
Stewart Cink. Rmains hugely competitive
Darren Clark. Loves this course
Ernie Els. Still swings it beautifully
To win:
Padraig Harrington. Still has every shot in the book
Each way:
Miguel Angel Jimenez. Crowd favourite
Each way:
Stewart Cink. Still send it out there
