Open legends extending their 25-year scrap into another Major battle
Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington at it again after over two decades
Honoured Stewart Cink admits it'll be a pleasure to enjoy yet another epic battle with fellow Open legend Padraig Harrington.
The pair are set for the latest ding-dong in Colorado at the US Senior Open as they both share the halfway lead with Aussie Mark Hensby.
Cink and Harrington have their names etched in the history of the Open Championship having run-off a hat-trick of Claret Jug wins. The Irishman was crowned Champion Golfer of the Year in 2007 and Carnoustie and 2008 at Royal Birkdale before the American took the honours in 2009 with his dramatic win over Tom Watson at Turnberry.
The American has nothing but admiration for Harrington and said: 'We've played together so many times. I would be shocked if there's anybody I've played more golf with in major championships than Padraig Harrington over my career and it's probably by double the next guy. I just get paired with him all the time. This goes way back 20, 25 years.
'I've always respected his game and we're very good friends with their family. It's a comfortable pairing. I love watching him play. I would hope that he probably feels similarly about me. We have mutual respect for each other. He's a world class player and he's been doing it a long time. I would love it if we could go the distance here.
'We played against each other in the Ryder Cup. That's like the pinnacle of competition. I don't even know if he got the better of me or if I got the better of him. But all I know is I've watched him play a lot and I've listened to him talk a lot. He's just a great character and I have just the highest respect for his game.
It's going to be fun. I feel honoured to be able to go up against him and, hopefully, he feels the same way. I thrive on it. We love it. I love the fact that I haven't played great these first two days. I've played pretty good golf but nothing spectacular, but I've watched him play kind of the same way. He's played very well and he's also made some mistakes that he probably would like to have back. Neither of us have hit our stride here, so hopefully we get a little bit better and turn the screws a little bit. I have a feeling that Harrington and I are going to be in it late.'
The Dubliner returned the compliments and said: 'I played with Stewart a lot over the years and a lot of my good tournaments have been played with Stewart, so he's a good partner for me always. I think on the Champions Tour, it's a better partner because there's a lot of similarities in our clubs.
'If anything, he'd be a little bit longer than me, but I suppose I know his game enough that I can see what's happening as well. He is definitely a partner I would choose to play with.'
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