Augusta makes it difficult for the stars: Langer is clearly golfing on the Masters record course


Augusta makes it difficult for the stars
Langer is clearly on the Masters record course

The preparation was not good, and the opening lap was not ideal either. Nevertheless, Bernhard Langer is on record course at the Masters in Augusta. The golf veteran is not the only big name at the tournament that is troubled by the conditions.

When golf veteran Bernhard Langer had long since finished his opening round at the 85th Masters in Augusta, his 74th round was given a completely different value than initially thought. Because the 63-year-old two-time champion finished the first day despite two strokes over par in shared 30th place – in front of greats like Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau as well as Brooks Koepka and world number one and last year’s winner Dustin Johnson, the all struggled with the conditions in their own way. Only twelve players remained below the standard of the course, in the lead was the Briton Justin Rose with seven under par and four strokes ahead of second place.

“It was a bit difficult the last few days. I had a bit of back problems and slight knee pain. But it went relatively well today,” Langer told Sky TV. “The preparation wasn’t ideal for me. I’ve played very little golf in the last five weeks and haven’t had much training. But I’m now looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Langer suffered losses on four lanes and only managed two birdies, but was in good company. “The conditions were very difficult,” said Johnson. “The green is always challenging here, but the wind was difficult today too.” Gary Woodland and Sergio Garcia felt like they were after a boxing match. “I feel like I’m coming out of the ring with Mike Tyson. It was brutal out there,” said Woodland. “I feel like I’m out of a ring with Evander Holyfield,” said Garcia.

Langer holds up the German flag alone

Even Rose didn’t have a good day at all and after seven holes he was still two over par. In the end he played a 65 and thus the best Masters round of his career. “It’s a good reminder that you never know what can happen here,” said the 40-year-old Englishman. First pursuers are Brian Harman, who was the last player to qualify for the 88-person field, and Hideki Matsuyama from Japan, each four strokes behind.

If Langer holds his position after the second day, the 1985 and 1993 Masters winner breaks his record from last year when he qualified as the oldest professional golfer in history on Magnolia Lane for the weekend.

Langer is teeing off at the Augusta National Golf Club for the 38th time. Thanks to his two Masters successes, he has a lifelong entry right to the $ 11.5 million major tournament in the US state of Georgia. In 2020, when the Masters was postponed to November due to Corona, Langer finished the tournament 17 strokes behind winner Johnson in a respectable 29th place. Half a year ago there were 53 players under par on the first day.

Besides Langer, there are no other German golfers at the start in Augusta. The two-time major winner Martin Kaymer did not qualify for the Masters this year either. Superstar and crowd favorite Tiger Woods is also missing. The five-time Masters champion from the USA is currently recovering from his violent car accident in late February.

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