Jerry Kelly, the affable American with a generous smile, won the 2026 ISPS HANDA Senior Open Championship, with a dogged and determined display of golf on the final day on the Kings Course at Gleneagles.
The 2026 Championship was ISPS HANDA’s second event as title sponsor and Gleneagles proved to be another excellent venue following on from Sunningdale Golf Club last year.
While Kelly struggled at times tee to green on Championship Sunday, he held his nerve throughout the round to win by two shots from Cameron Percy, closing out his round with an exceptional sand save for birdie on the final hole.
“My brain, actually, was the most successful part of my game, Kelly said.
“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. Kelly was a three-time winner on the PGA TOUR and Presidents Cup player in 2003 before entering the senior game, where he has 14 wins on the PGA TOUR Champions, including two Senior Players Championships.
He can now add the Senior Open trophy to his collection after it was presented to him by former UK Prime Minister Lord Cameron.
“It’s indescribable to win it,” said an emotional Kelly. The senior Claret Jug is the trophy that I’ve wanted as an over-50 golfer more than any other.”
“To be on this trophy, to be a part of this trophy, to be a part of the R&A, I just love it over here, I really do. 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.”
Overall, the championship was an outstanding success for the R&A, DP World Tour and ISPS HANDA. The championship featured a star-studded tourout that included
23 major champions in the field, including ISPS HANDA Ambassadors, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie.
Padraig Harrington entered the week not only as defending champion, but also attempting to achieve the historic feat of going back to back in the Senior Open Championship after winning his second consecutive US Senior Open just a few weeks earlier.
The 2027 ISPS HANDA Senior Open Championship will be held at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club from 22-25 July, 2027. It will mark the 4 th time Royal Porthcawl has hosted the championship.
