Augusta, GA. It’s been said all good things must come to an end and when Bernhard Langer plays in his 41st Masters this week it will be his final time as an active competitor in a tournament in which he won two green jackets — 1985 and 1993.
Langer’s 1985 win was the first triumph by a German at Augusta and marked just the second European continent player to do so (Spain’s Seve Ballesteros first accomplished that in 1979 and repeated in 1983).
| Bernhard Langer
Age – 67 |
When the world golf rankings were first announced in 1986 it was Langer who found himself at the top of the pecking order. His time at the top of the world rankings was short but his overall staying power in professional golf has cemented his permanent legacy.
Two green jackets in concert with 41 European Tour titles and 3 on the PGA Tour. And on top of that — Induction into the World Golf Hall-of-Fame in 2001/02.
Following his time on the regular tours Langer showcased an ever-greater impact with a highly successful career on the Champions Tour when during 50 years of age. The 67-year-old has been a steady performer – winning at least one event for a record 18 consecutive years and having a record overall total with 47 triumphs. When other players have been defeated by father time – Langer like the Energizer bunny – keeps going and going.
Golf is a game in which adversity is a constant hurdle to overcome. The weight of adversity can vary from player to player but the wherewithal to fight through it and see progress is a feat only the most accomplished of players attain.
At the 1991 Ryder Cup matches the outcome of the tussle between the USA and Europe came down to the final pairing. Langer faced a five-foot putt to secure the win for Europe. He missed. For many players such a devastating failure could have placed an irrevocable stigma that would forever linger. Not so for Langer. The very next week Bernhard returned to his native Germany and won a European Tour event.
Following the Kiawah matches Langer would return as a Euro team member four additional times – culminating as a non-playing winning Captain of the 2004 team.
Langer also experienced crippling putting woes throughout his playing career. Famously called “the yips” – he would go through prolonged stretches where various twitches caused him to miss even the shortest of putts.
Fighting through that specific adversity had him use various grips when holding a putter — eventually prompting him to employ an extended long putter.
When bracing the putter against his body was ruled illegal by the USGA he improvised his putting motion to stroke the golf ball with his arms hanging away from his body.
Much of Bernhard’s steadfast commitment to the game comes from his core religious beliefs. Langer is a devout Christian and he has used his faith as the mechanism to see him through the ups and downs that happen in professional golf specifically and in life generally.
In early 2024 – Bernhard suffered a torn Achilles tendon and the planned formal departure at that year’s Masters was put on hold.
Incredibly, Langer’s resolve was tested and he again demonstrated total resolve in not only returning to competition but winning the final event on the Champions Tour at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship by sinking a 30-foot putt on the final hole to nail down the win.
Then to top matters off he partnered with son Jason in defending his PNC title by defeating in a playoff Tiger Woods and his son Charlie with an eagle putt on the first playoff hole.
This year’s Masters will mark his final competitive connection to an event he has long cherished. Langer will celebrate the moment with Vikki – his wife of 40 years. The Langers have four children and four grandchildren.
When Langer turned pro in 1972 the future for him in the competitive lane was anything but certain. Langer had to also deal with a number of European rivals who often received the lion’s share of attention with the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, José María Olazábal, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam.
But Langer persevered.
His tenacity never wavering — outlasting all of them.
A fitting climax has Langer completing all 72 holes. A magical walk up the 18th at Augusta National with him rightly taking in the full emotions of the moment.
Auf Wiedersehen Bernhard —
It’s been one magnificent career.
