BERKSHIRE, England (AP) — Padraig Harrington birdied the final hole Saturday for another 5-under 65 for a two-shot lead over Justin Leonard going into the final round of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open as the Irishman goes for his second senior major of the year.

Harrington was among four players who had at least a share of the lead at some point during the round on the Old Course at Sunningdale. He seized the lead with birdies on the 13th and 14th hole, and a closing birdie added to his slight lead.

Harrington was at 13-under 197. He has been in the United Kingdom the last three weeks for links golf, starting with the Genesis Scottish Open. He won the U.S. Senior Open in Colorado a month ago.

Leonard, the only PGA TOUR Champions player to make the cut last week in The Open at Royal Portrush, also had a second straight 65.

Thomas Bjørn had a 67 and was three shots behind.

Harrington and Leonard are past Open champions — Leonard at Royal Troon in 1997, Harrington winning the first of two claret jugs a decade later at Carnoustie (2007) and Royal Birkdale (2008). Either one can become the fifth player to win The Open and ISPS HANDA Senior Open, a feat last accomplished by Darren Clarke in 2022.

Steven Alker, a two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner who opened with a 73, tried to get back in the game. He shot 66 and was among four players at 8-under 202, five shots behind.

The winner is exempt for the 154th Open next year at Royal Birkdale.

Pádraig Harrington, 67-65-65—197 (first)

• The 53-year-old seeks his 11th win on PGA TOUR Champions, second this season and third senior major championship title in his 59th career start
  • Last win: 2025 U.S. Senior Open
• Making his fourth appearance at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open after notching top-five finishes each of the last three years, including runner-up efforts in 2022 and 2023
• Looks to become the fifth player to win both The Open Championship and ISPS HANDA Senior Open, joining Bob Charles, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Darren Clarke
• Looks to become the fourth multiple winner of the 2025 season, joining Miguel Angel Jiménez (four wins), Ángel Cabrera (three wins) and Steve Allan (two wins)
• With a victory, would become the only player on PGA TOUR Champions with multiple wins in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025
• Marks his fifth time leading/co-leading a Champions Tour event through 54 holes (in a 72-hole event); converted three of those leads into wins at the 2025 U.S. Senior Open, 2022 U.S. Senior Open and 2022 Charles Schwab Cup Championship
• Will play in the final group for the second time this season
• Harrington never held a 54-hole lead at a major championship during his PGA TOUR career; entered the final rounds in T3, T2 and T4 for his wins at the 2007 Open Championship, 2008 Open Championship and 2008 PGA Championship, respectively
• Making his 10th start of the 2025 season; has four top-10 finishes and entered the week No. 5 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings

Justin Leonard, 69-65-65—199 (second)

• 1997 Open Champion who finished T59 at last week’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush, posts 69-65-65— 199 and sits in solo second heading into the final round
• The 53-year-old seeks his second win on PGA TOUR Champions, second this season and first senior major championship title in his 55th career start
  • Last win: 2025 Chubb Classic
• Looks to become the fourth multiple winner of the 2025 season, joining Miguel Angel Jiménez (four), Ángel Cabrera (three) and Steve Allan (two)
• Making his 13th start of the 2025 season, has two top 10 finishes and entered the week No. 18 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings
• Will play in the last group of the final round for the second time since this season
• Making his second appearance at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open after missing the cut in 2024

Thomas Bjørn, 70-63-67—200 (third)

• After concluding his second-round 63 posting the lowest round of his Champions Tour career, cards 3-under 67 and sits in solo third
• Seeks his first individual title on PGA TOUR Champions after winning the American Family Insurance Championship with teammate Darren Clarke last month; owns two runner-up finishes on Tour: 2024 Trophy Hassan II, 2025 Senior PGA Championship
• Looks to become the fourth multiple winner of the 2025 season
• Making his fourth appearance at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open, his best finish is T5 at the 2024 event

Other notes

• Defending champion K.J. Choi (T29) posted a 5-over 75 to drop to 2-under for the tournament; since 2003, no player has successfully defended his title at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open; entered the week at No. 19 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings with three top-10 finishes in 2025, including a season-best runner-up at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational.
• World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els (T8) looks to secure the eighth win of his Champions Tour career, the second win of his 2025 season (Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai) and his second senior major (2024 Kaulig Companies Championship).
• First-round leader Steven Alker (T4) bounced back from 3-over 73 in the second round to post a 4-under 66, making his fourth appearance at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open, he has finished T3 (2022), T11 (2023) and T5 (2024).
• Kevin Sutherland (T4) posted a 4-under 66 and seeks his best finish in his first appearance since 2018 at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open, previous finishes T24 (2018), T12 (2016) and T19 (2015).