Last month there was bad news: Bernhard Langer, probably the most successful German golfer of all time, had torn his Achilles tendon at the age of 66. The tournament golfer suffered the injury during training, preventing him from taking part in the first highlights of the calendar year. Langer now revealed in the “Musings on Golf” podcast that there was another cause behind the injury.
Bernhard Langer: Achilles tendon rupture while playing pickleball
Bernhard Langer did not tear his Achilles tendon during golf training, as he originally explained. The injury resulted from a maneuver while playing pickleball. Pickleball is an American ball sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis. The question now arises as to why Bernhard Langer, a professional golfer for whom his body is his asset, would expose himself to such a risk of injury. “I play all sorts of sports to stay fit, and this was part of my fitness regime,” Langer explains in the podcast.
The situation in which his Achilles tendon ruptured sounds like a classic move: “Somebody was trying to lob me. I did a few steps backward and hit an overhead, and as I landed on the ground with my feet I heard this huge pop, very loud, like a gun shot. I knew right away it was a torn Achilles.”
Chances of recovery and comeback
Immediately after his injury, it was questionable whether or when the 66-year-old would return to the golf course. The chances of him taking part in this year’s Masters, which he also wanted to celebrate as his farewell to the major tournament, were promptly negligible. His appearance at the BMW International Open 2024 in Munich was also in the stars. However, in conversation with Dr. Tino Lorenz, sports physician and surgeon from Dresden, Golf Post learned that the golfer had a good chance of returning to the sport soon thanks to the optimal support that would most likely be offered to him after the operation.
Bernhard Langer’s positive update from rehab
Bernhard Langer has now confirmed this in person by revealing his tournament plans. In the podcast, he revealed that he is aiming to start at the Insperity Invitational in Houston from May 3 to 5, 2024. Langer would probably surprise many with a start at this tournament – only around three months after his injury. Hopes are growing that he will be able to make his planned start in Munich at the beginning of July.
Although Langer will not be able to play in Augusta this year, he would like to make the trip to golf’s most famous major. As a two-time Masters champion, the German would at least like to take part in the Masters Club Dinner for Champions.