Kelly holds nerve at Gleneagles to claim maiden Senior Open title
American cards final-round 68 to secure third Senior Major victory and seal two-stroke win over Percy, Gogel, and Fichardt
Korea - Jerry Kelly produced a masterclass in lag putting and composure down the stretch at The Gleneagles Hotel to capture his first ISPS HANDA Senior Open title by two strokes.
The 59-year-old American entered the final round tied for the lead with Australia’s Cameron Percy before signing for a two-under-par 68 to reach 10-under 270. Kelly finished two shots clear of Percy, South Africa’s Darren Fichardt, and fellow American Matt Gogel, who surged up the leaderboard with a stunning, bogey-free 63.
Kelly built an early three-shot cushion on the front nine before managing a back-nine battle against pouring rain and a nagging back tweak suffered on the sixth hole. Holding a one-stroke lead on the par-five 18th tee, Kelly found a greenside bunker with his second shot but executed a brilliant recovery to four feet, draining the birdie putt to secure his 14th PGA TOUR Champions title and third Senior Major championship.
“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,” Kelly reflected. “My brain, actually, was the most successful part of my game today. I learned a lot about myself, and I wish I would have learned it 20 or 30 years ago. You’re never too old to learn, and that’s what really pulled me through.”
With the victory, Kelly becomes the first American winner of the Senior Open since Marco Dawson in 2015, while also earning a coveted exemption into The 155th Open Championship at St Andrews next year.
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher recorded the lowest round of the tournament—an eight-under 62—to finish solo fifth at six-under-par, while American Taggart Ridings took sixth at five-under. Defending champion K.J. Choi tied for seventh at four-under alongside Zach Johnson, Boo Weekley, and Italy’s Emanuele Canonica.