World golf career soon over
Only “miracles” can stop Langer’s farewell tour
January 18, 2024, 6:08 p.m
The world career of a German golf idol is coming to an end: Two-time champion Bernhard Langer has announced his departure from the US Masters. He jokingly leaves a back door open, but the old master doesn’t show any signs of melancholy.
With the Pacific behind him, Bernhard Langer stood in the Hawaiian sun, wore a bittersweet grin and even had to laugh himself when he left a rather small back door open. “Unless a few miracles happen soon,” the German golf idol joked when announcing his farewell: “It will be my last Masters this year. I’ve already decided that.”
There was no sign of sadness on Langer’s face yet, but it will certainly come when the 1985 and 1993 champion tees off for the last time at the famous Magnolia Lane at the 88th edition of the major in April. As the tournament winner, the 66-year-old has a lifelong right to compete in Augusta, but Langer no longer wants to make use of this starting next year. The 41st participation will be his last.
“I don’t want to make a fool of myself,” said the two-time Green Jacket winner, whose world career is finally coming to an end: “I have to unpack woods when the boys hit the green with small irons. Under these conditions, I can hardly keep up. ”
Oldest participant at US Open
Langer, who is starting the new season of the Champions Tour for those over 50 in Hawaii, has mostly been competitive in recent years. The young top stars who took part in the round with Langer at the Masters were then impressed by how well the old master still mastered the course.
Last year, Langer missed out on the two final rounds for only the 13th time, but he wasn’t left behind either. However, his old rival Fred Couples robbed Langer of the record for the oldest player to make the cut in 2023.
At the US Open in June, Langer will again be the oldest participant. But the former world number one, who has set record after record on the Champions Tour in recent years, also wants to compete there for the last time. Langer had already announced in December that he would play on the DP World Tour for the last time at the BMW Open in Eichenried in July.
So the farewell tour is imminent – unless a few miracles happen.