“The mother turns 100 years old”
Bernhard Langer announces “eternal” golf life
7/3/2023 1:21 p.m
At almost 66 years of age, golf icon Bernhard Langer crowned himself the sole record holder on the US Seniors Tour. The competition freezes in awe and the man from Anhausen announces that his career is far from over. It also has something to do with his mother.
For the makers of the PGA Tour Champions, no words were too great for Germany’s golfing icon Bernhard Langer. “King. Legend. The greatest of all time,” tweeted the organizers of the tournament series after Langer’s record win. Title number 46 and that at almost 66 years of age. With his triumph at the US Senior Open, the Anhausen native crowned himself as the most successful player in the history of the US Senior Tour.
Since Sunday, the willowy Swabian has been the sole record holder for the over-50s. At 65 years, 10 months and 5 days, Langer also improved his record as the oldest winner of the tour. The veteran commented on the magnificent record in his very own way. “The golf ball doesn’t know how old we are,” joked Langer. The 1985 and 1993 Masters champion trumped golf legend Hale Irwin. The American won 45 tournaments in his career.
Langer won Sunday’s major tournament in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, thanks to a 70 final round. With a total of 277 strokes, he relegated the Americans Steve Stricker (279 strokes) and Jerry Kelly (280) to second and third place. Langer is particularly proud of his twelfth major victory in the over-50s. “To have won more majors on this tour than anyone else is incredible,” said the golf veteran.
The record has been plaguing Langer since February
However, the step to the new record was not a sure-fire success. “Since my 45th title in February, it’s been difficult to get that record out of my head,” admitted Langer, who lives in Boca Raton, Florida. But this week he felt good. “I could concentrate very well.”
In view of the dominance, the competition did not skimp on praise. “It gives all of us who are still playing out here hope that we can continue to play as well as he has for so long,” said Stricker of Langer. “It’s really impressive. I knew he wouldn’t back down today.”
After another coup, Langer still doesn’t think about quitting. “I have a mother who turns 100 on August 4th, so I think I have good genes. Hopefully I’ll be around for a few more years,” he said. Although he is in much more pain than ten years ago, he still enjoys the game. “There was a week or two where I was like, ‘What were you doing out here? Go home and play with your grandkids,'” revealed Langer.
The offspring presses the veterans
Langer has been the superstar on the US Seniors Tour for over 16 years. In the over-50s category, the former number one in the world has so far earned more than 35 million US dollars in prize money. The father of four’s recipe for success: ambition, passion and discipline.
Above all, his outstanding fitness helps him to be successful. Langer’s competitors are getting younger and stronger every year. In addition to the 56-year-old Stricker, the New Zealander Steven Alker and Padraig Harrington from Ireland are scratching the German throne.
Title number 46 in the seniors is another milestone in Langer’s sensational golf career. In addition to his two Masters victories in Augusta, he shaped the Ryder Cup for almost three decades. He played ten times alongside the best golfers in Europe against the stars from the USA. He has won the Ryder Cup trophy six times. In 2004, Langer was captain of the victorious Europeans. In 1980 he won his first tournament on the European tour in Wales. In the course of his career, the Anhausen native had 41 more titles to follow on this tour. In 1986, the German became the world’s first official number one.