Padraig Harrington didn’t need last-hole magic this time. He turned the U.S. Senior Open into a statement Sunday at Scioto Country Club, closing with a 4-under 66 to beat Stewart Cink by four shots and claim his third title in the championship.

Harrington finished at 12-under 268, becoming just the second three-time winner in U.S. Senior Open history, joining Miller Barber. He also became only the fourth player to successfully defend the title, putting his name alongside Barber, Gary Player and Allen Doyle.

That’s serious company, and Harrington earned every bit of it.

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The 54-year-old Irishman started the day one shot behind Cink, but the tournament flipped almost immediately. Harrington birdied the first two holes while Cink stumbled early, and within three holes, the lead had completely changed hands. What began as a tight final-round duel quickly turned into Harrington controlling the championship.

Unlike his previous U.S. Senior Open victories, which were decided by a single shot, this one didn’t come with a white-knuckle finish. Harrington built enough cushion to play smart golf down the stretch. He attacked when he had the chance, played safely when the moment called for it and never gave the field much of an opening.

The biggest swing came at the par-4 eighth. Cink, trying to stay in the fight, watched a strong tee shot take a brutal bounce and find the creek. Harrington then buried a long birdie putt, stretching the lead and sucking much of the drama out of the afternoon.

Cink, who was trying to become the first player to win the first three senior majors in the same season, never found his rhythm. He hit only two fairways on the front nine and closed with a 71, finishing second at 8-under 272. It marked the second straight year he finished runner-up to Harrington in the U.S. Senior Open.

George McNeill, who played alongside Harrington and Cink in the final group, shot 71 and finished third at 6-under 274. Ian Poulter made a Sunday push with a 67 to take fourth at 5-under, while Retief Goosen, Jamie Donaldson and Paul Stankowski finished at 4-under.

For Harrington, this was his 12th PGA TOUR Champions victory and fourth senior major title. More importantly, it was another reminder that his window is still wide open.

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Senior golf careers can shift fast as new names age into the circuit, but Harrington isn’t fading into the background. He’s still winning majors, still closing tournaments and still building a résumé that looks more historic by the year.

At Scioto, he didn’t just defend a championship.

He separated himself from the field and stepped deeper into U.S. Senior Open history.