Tag: Bernhard Langer

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Panorama

A Golf Year in Review 2024: The Emotional Highlights

The 2024 Golf Year in Review: Moments That Moved the Golf World. (Photos: Getty)

Golf in 2024 was marked not only by outstanding performances on the course but also by moments off the greens that highlighted the human side of the sport. From personal milestones to emotional victories, this year was filled with stories that went beyond birdies and bogeys.

An Alpine Fairytale Wedding: Martin Kaymer’s Personal Highlight

Martin Kaymer turned Castle Elmau in the Bavarian Alps into a picturesque venue for love and camaraderie. Celebrating with his wife Irene Scholz, Kaymer hosted a festive wedding ceremony two years after their private vows. Their son Sam, born in early 2022, took part in the festivities, carrying the rings in a touching moment. Fellow golfers, including Adrian Meronk, shared glimpses of the joyous occasion.

A Painful Loss: Grayson Murray’s Absence Felt Deeply

On May 25, 2024, the golf world was stunned by the tragic news of Grayson Murray’s passing. The 30-year-old, who had celebrated victory at the Sony Open earlier in the year, took his own life after a long struggle with mental health challenges.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan remarked, “We lost not only a talented golfer but also a unique individual. The Tour is like a family, and this loss affects us all deeply.”

Olympic Gold: Scottie Scheffler Reaches a Career Pinnacle

The Olympic golf event at Le Golf National became the stage for an intense final. Scottie Scheffler secured the gold medal with a flawless 62 in the last round, clinching the title with a decisive birdie on the 17th hole.

During the medal ceremony, Scheffler tearfully sang the U.S. national anthem as the flag was raised.

Bernhard Langer’s Final Curtain in Europe

Bernhard Langer, the German golf legend, bid farewell to European tournaments in 2024. Despite an Achilles tendon injury that nearly ended his season, the 66-year-old returned to compete in the BMW International Open, his last major European event.

The crowd honored Langer with standing ovations, acknowledging a career that spanned decades. Teeing off with Martin Kaymer and Marcel Siem, Langer reflected on the changes in the game, joking, “The courses are getting longer, and I’m getting shorter.”

Rory McIlroy: US Open of Missed Opportunities

The US Open 2024 at Pinehurst was supposed to be Rory McIlroy’s long-awaited breakthrough, nearly a decade after his last major victory. With a two-shot lead over the final five holes, everything seemed to be going according to plan. But the drama unfolded: two short putts, missed at the 16th and 18th holes, cost McIlroy the title. McIlroy left the course without comment and withdrew from public life for several weeks. Later, he admitted, “It was a tough day, probably the hardest of my career.”

Bryson DeChambeau: Major Win and a Path Back to the Fans’ Hearts

While McIlroy faltered down the stretch, it was Bryson DeChambeau who emerged as the hero at Pinehurst. With a spectacular bunker shot on the 18th hole, which he later called “the shot of my life,” DeChambeau secured his second US Open title after his 2020 triumph. The victory was not only a sporting milestone but also marked a remarkable image transformation.

Once considered a polarizing figure, particularly due to his involvement in the LIV Golf controversy, DeChambeau showed a new side in 2024. In his post-win press conference, he dedicated the victory to his late father and golf legend Payne Stewart, who won the US Open at the same venue in 1999. “I wanted to do it for them,” he said, tears in his eyes.

His behavior on and off the course noticeably shifted. He engaged more with fans and earned praise for his emotional display. The US Open victory thus became both a sporting and personal triumph, symbolizing the evolution of a player committed to change.

A Rising Star: Robert MacIntyre Triumphs in Canada

The RBC Canadian Open 2024 was a breakthrough moment for Robert MacIntyre. The Scotsman demonstrated nerves of steel on a tense final day to secure his first victory on the PGA Tour.

It was not just the sporting achievement that made the story special. His father served as his caddie and shared the defining moment with him. “This is a dream I’ve shared with my dad since childhood,” said an emotional MacIntyre.

Team Spirit and Karaoke: McIlroy and Lowry Win in New Orleans

At the Zurich Classic, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry showcased the power of friendship on the course. With a playoff victory, the Irish duo clinched the title, proving how much fun golf can be as a team. “Winning with Shane by my side was something special. We’ve known each other for over 20 years – it makes this success even more meaningful.”

The fun didn’t stop on the course: after their victory, McIlroy and Lowry celebrated with gusto, surprising fans with a karaoke rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Images of the singing duo with their WWE-inspired championship belts went viral, making their win one of the year’s most entertaining moments.

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PGA Tour Champions

Breaking Bernhard Langers Winning Record on the Champions Tour: “An Incredibly Tall Order”

Image: Getty
Image: Getty

Bernhard Langer holds the record for the most wins on the Champions Tour with 46 victories. Padraig Harrington, 52 years old and therefore only recently eligible for the seniors tour, already has eight wins. Last Wednesday, Harrington was asked by a journalist whether he or another golfer would be able to break Langers record.

Padraig Harrington: “It doesn’t look possible or likely”

“No. I’ve tried to do the math on it as you would say, the maths as I would say. It doesn’t look possible or likely, but the reality is it mightn’t be me but all records are broken, that’s just the way it is.”

“When somebody sets a record, it’s a goal for somebody else and they’ll chase it down eventually. Certainly for myself, it would seem like an incredibly tall order. Yeah, he’s 67, still playing great, which is amazing and an inspiration to us all, but to get to his amount of wins I think is a step too far for me”, said Padraig Harrington.

Bernhard Langer: The G.O.A.T. of the Champions Tour

In terms of both the total number of victories on the Champions Tour and the number of victories in senior majors, Langer is the G.O.A.T. – Greatest of all time – on the Champions Tour. The German has won a total of 46 tournaments on the Champions Tour, twelve of them in senior majors. The US American Hale Irwin has won the second most tournaments – 45 in total. Lee Trevino is a distant third with 29 triumphs. The figures for Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player are also impressive. Both are known to have won a total of 27 majors in the “regular majors”. But the two Hall of Famers have also won a lot in the senior category, with a combined total of 17 victories in senior majors. However, Bernhard Langer remains the ultimate winner on the senior tour for the time being, even if it has been a while since his last victory. On July 2, 2023, he won the US Senior Open, his 46th and last tournament to date.

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PGA Tour Champions

Bernhard Langer: “I Guess I Could [Retire], but I Love the Game of Golf”

Reigning champions at the US Senior Open 2024: Bernhard Langer. (Image: Getty)
Reigning champions at the US Senior Open 2024: Bernhard Langer. (Image: Getty)

With the US Senior Open 2024 right around the corner, Bernhard Langer talked about the recovery from his injury, mental challenges and his return as the reigning champion in a press conference at the Newport Country Club.

Bernhard Langer: “I’ve got a ways to go”

Moderator: How does your body feel now that you have a couple of competitions under your belt as you head into the US Senior Open this week?

Bernhard Langer: It’s getting better, but it’s not there yet. I was told it’s an injury that generally takes 12 months to be at 100 percent, and I’m not even at five months yet. So there’s various things that aren’t there yet. My balance is not where I want it to be, and my strength. My calf muscle is probably one or two inches smaller than the other leg. I can’t get on my tiptoes.

I’ve got a ways to go, and I’m happy to be playing golf. The good thing is I can get carts in tournaments because right now I can’t walk four or five days, 18 holes. It’s impossible. I tried to walk 9 holes, and that was a stretch. That’s where we are at the moment. Hopefully improving every week.

Q. Bernhard, you’ve been playing high-level golf for many decades now. What’s the key to longevity in your golf game?

Bernhard Langer: Well, there’s a lot of things. First of all, you have to be reasonably healthy, because if not, you can’t do what you want to do and can’t swing the way you want to swing. I was born with a competitive nature, so I have a healthy drive and live a disciplined life, which probably helps. You need a great support system with coach, manager, caddie, family obviously is even more important, all of that.

And the willingness to put in the work. I’m 66, and a lot of people say, why don’t you retire? I guess I could, but I love the game of golf and I love to compete, and I’m still good enough to compete and be up there where I think I can win tournaments. When that changes, when I feel like I’m going to finish in the bottom third of the field every week I compete, then it’s probably time to quit.

Q. Is there anything specific that you do on the health and wellness side to keep yourself fit?

Bernhard Langer: Well, I don’t drink alcohol at all. I don’t smoke. I exercise every day and stretch. I have done for ever since I can remember. I think that certainly helps to be reasonably fit, to have some stamina, and to feel better.

Q. Were you concerned with your injury? How much can you not do now that you did before, A? B, are you concerned that your swing may have to adapt to the problem with your leg?

Bernhard Langer: Yes, that was my first concern. When my surgeon and my PT told me, okay, we’re now two months after surgery, I think you can try and putt a little bit and chip, and then we progressed to hitting 50-yard shots and then maybe 100-yard shots, and a week or two later, we could try a driver or 7-iron or something like that.

I was working through that progress. I told my surgeon, you know, when it comes to golf, you’ve got to trust me. I know my body. So I hit some wedges, no problem. If I can hit a full wedge, I can hit a full 7-iron. Hit a full 7-iron, no problem. Grabbed the 3-iron, no problem. Next day I grabbed the driver, no problem swinging the club. So I told him, you know, that two- or three-week layout you gave me to get to the driver, we’re already there. I did it yesterday.

But I was very concerned at the beginning that, because of my injury, that I would change my swing, and I didn’t want to do that. So I got my swing coach, and we went to the range. I said, I don’t want to change my swing. I want to swing the way I did before, and if my body doesn’t allow me, I’m not going to play. We looked at it, and he said, it’s fine. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and there’s no issue. So that was very encouraging, because that meant now I can practice and I could compete if I can get a golf cart, because I couldn’t walk. As long as they give me a golf cart, I can actually play in tournaments.

Q. This golf course, the golf courses you play Senior Open-wise, this seems to be as close as we can come to a links style golf course. Do you feel that way? Do you feel like it’s playing a links-style game?

Bernhard Langer: Yeah, it looks that way, even without the pot bunker, even though some bunkers are pretty deep and pretty severe, especially around the greens. I find a lot of the greens are like bowls, so if you do hit it in the bunker, if you miss the green, you’re always having a downhill bunker shot, you know what I mean?

The other thing is, yeah, the wind obviously gives it a linksy feeling too. It’s blowing. Yesterday was as beautiful a day as you could ever imagine, and it was still blowing a little bit. We’re going to have probably days like this when it feels like 15 or 20, but it probably plays more like 25 or 30 because we’re so wide open and exposed, not many trees and right at the edge of the ocean.

Q. I saw during, I think it was a PGA Tour Champions video just posted a month or so ago, you talked about how Aaron Rodgers and that Achilles and that kind of – I think you used the term like lifted your spirits. If you could expand on that. Also, have you talked to any professional athletes regardless of the sport during your recovery?

Bernhard Langer: No, mostly to Aaron. We were on the phone for about an hour and been texting a couple of times because he had the identical injury and the identical surgery with a SpeedBridge, the Arthrex SpeedBridge they call it, and the rest of it, it was all the same.

We had just talked about the PRP and stem cells, which I haven’t done yet and probably will not do, but I’ve had PRP done, which is your own blood spinning and injecting your own blood into the wound or into the area that needs healing.

It was interesting to hear his thoughts on the rehab, what he did and what I was doing, and it was on very similar lines and similar progress as well.

Q.  What are some of your favorite spots on the course here? Coming down the first time, but what are some of your favorite spots?

Bernhard Langer: On this course? I’m not sure I have a favorite. It’s all pretty. The golf house is very unique. It’s right on top of the hill, and you can see half of the golf course. It has some beautiful holes. Not sure there’s a bad hole on the course. I don’t think there is.

Depending on the wind, this golf course could play totally different every day. I mean, really different. You could hit driver, wedge one day, and then driver, 3-wood the next day on the very same hole. It’s going to be very interesting.

Q.  Some players are defined by a missed shot that happens at a critical point and they can’t get over it, or they’ve had a tournament that was of major importance to them and they couldn’t get over it. You battled yips. You went through the missed putt at Kiawah. Can you talk about the mental strength you have to get beyond those moments and to put into your own career a second phase through senior golf. Can you speak about the mental challenges that you’ve had to overcome during those different parts of your life.

Bernhard Langer: Oh, absolutely. I think the game of golf will present these challenges no matter who you are. We’re all going to have down times and up times, good times and bad times, and you learn more from the bad times generally than the good times.

Just look at Jack Nicklaus, maybe the greatest player ever. He just won 18 majors, but just as many seconds. I bet he will remember many of those seconds.

Q.  You mentioned that, the losses stick longer than the wins.

Bernhard Langer: Yeah, and that’s how it is. I’ve had numerous of those, and there’s only two ways. You either confront them and learn from it and get better or you pack it in and give up. So the mental strength, what helped me big time is I became a believer in God in ’85 and started reading the Bible, and that gave me a tremendous amount of peace and patience and understanding of what life is all about.

For me, it was brilliant to miss that putt at Kiawah, which was actually a good putt, believe it or not, but it missed. The outcome is still very bad for me and my team. But the very next week I made a 10-foot putt on the last hole to get in the playoff and win the German Masters.

Q.  What did you know of Newport prior to when you came here, and how did that perception change or modify itself when you actually golfed here?

Bernhard Langer: I knew very little. I’d never seen the course. Hadn’t even heard much about it. I just knew it was I believe the Vanderbilts who came here and built most of what we see. I heard it’s a beautiful, old style golf course, and it’s far more than that. I’ve seen a lot of old style golf courses. This is far more impressive than some of the others, I think.

This is very playable at a green speed of 11 or 12. While some courses that are built 100 years ago when everything is pitched back to front and there were designs with stimp meter 6 or 8. If you play them at 11 or 12 the course is not playable. The ball rolls off the green. So this is very unique and very different. Beautiful.

Q.  Can you go back to last year and you’ve had time to possibly reflect on it, about the accomplishment of winning last year, considering age and the milestones that you set, what did that all mean to you in your career?

Bernhard Langer: It really set in a few days and weeks later, and it was quite spectacular. Incredible really when I look back, to win this tournament at age 66 almost.

It wasn’t just that I won, it was almost the way I won. When I looked at the leaderboard after 12 holes on Sunday, I think I had a seven-shot lead, and I didn’t expect that really. I wasn’t sure I would expect to win, I was hoping to be in contention. It was some of the best golf I played.

To do that at that age was very encouraging to me and hopefully gives many of the other senior players some hope that you can still get better even though you turned 50 or 60.

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Senior Tours

Greetings for Bernhard Langer from fellow tour players

Greetings for the injured Bernhard Langer fromm fellow tour players. (Source: Getty)
Greetings for the injured Bernhard Langer fromm fellow tour players. (Source: Getty)

Bernhard Langer, who is the oldest player on the PGA Tour Champions and therefore get’s calles “Dad” by his fellow tour players, got injured in February. Now his friends on the tour send their best wishes to “Dad”.

Recovery wishes for Bernhard Langer

Fred Couples. Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els and Steve Stricker have contacted their friend bernhard langer via video message. They sent the video from Newport Beach, where Langer has won before. “Hopefully you’re on the couch relaxing, I know that’s where I would be”, said Fred Couples and hopes to see Langer back in action soon. Padraig Harrington said he would look up to him and what he does. “Everybody’s learning from you and we miss you out here”, says the Ire. Furthermore Ernie Els sent his best wishes to Langer wishing him a speedy recovery. Last but not least Steve Stricker had a message for “Dad”: “Hi Dad, we sure miss you out here, but I have one question for you. What do you miss the most about being out here on the Champions Tour?” Langer is still due to answer that question. But as the keen golfer he is, Langer probably misses everything what playing professional golf is about.

Achilles Tendon Rupture in February

In February the exceptional German golfer ruptured his Achilles tendon during a training session in Boca Raton, Florida. Following his injury, he underwent surgery directly in Miami. According to sports physician Dr. Tino Lorenz, surgery for an Achilles tendon rupture is one of the more complicated procedures and requires a recovery period of three to six months. Although the downtime for professional athletes can be reduced through improved rehabilitation conditions, it remains questionable whether Bernhard Langer will return to the course one last time on the DP World Tour on his farewell tour. The BMW International Open will take place in Munich at the beginning of July. A full recovery by then seems quite realistic.

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Panorama

Bernhard Langer reveals: This is how he really sustained his injury

Bernhard Langer is currently in rehab. (Photo: Getty)
Bernhard Langer is currently in rehab. (Photo: Getty)

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.

Categories
Highlights Tours

Record hunt 2023: Bernhard Langer’s great triumph and more impressive performances

Some records were broken in 2023. Bernhard Langer continues to hone his legendary status. (Source: Getty)
Some records were broken in 2023. Bernhard Langer continues to hone his legendary status. (Source: Getty)

From impressive rounds to triumphant victories, the year 2023 in golf has been filled with astonishing moments. Bernhard Langer claimed the title of the most successful golfer on the PGA Tour Champions, Bryson DeChambeau left everyone in awe with a remarkable 58, and Scottie Scheffler’s wallet is likely brimming after a unique season. Let’s revisit the memorable records of 2023.

Bernhard Langers All-Time Record

At the 2023 US Senior Open, Bernhard Langer achieved a historic milestone by securing his 46th victory on the PGA Tour Champions, surpassing Hale Irwin’s record of 45 wins set in 2007. Langer, at the age of 65, showcased his excellence with an impressive seven strokes under par, maintaining a lead of two to three strokes over his competitors. This victory marked Langer’s twelfth major win on the Champions Tour, further solidifying his own record for the most senior majors. With numerous other successes in his illustrious career, Bernhard Langer remains a golf legend.

Bryson DeChambeau’s Picture-Perfect Round and a Double Record by Matt Wallace

While Bryson DeChambeau may not have reached legendary status yet, he astounded the golf world with a legendary round this year. At the Greenbrier Event of the LIV Golf League, the American clinched an undisputed victory, concluding the tournament with an impressive 58. A 59 is a rare feat, but a 58 in men’s golf is exceptionally uncommon. The last time such a low round was recorded was in 2016 by Jim Furyk on the PGA Tour and Stephan Jäger on the Web.com Tour.

However, record-breaking rounds were not limited to the LIV Tour. Matt Wallace set two records in a single round at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. While nine birdies in a round are impressive on their own, Wallace achieved nine birdies on the back nine, matching James Nittier’s record for the most consecutive birdies on the European Tour/DP World Tour and setting a new record for the Back Nine.

Long-Drive Record: No One Hits Farther than Kyle Berkshire

Kyle Berkshire, a multiple-time world champion and the number one-ranked long driver, set two new records in 2023. During his world record attempt, Berkshire struck the ball at an incredible speed of 241.6 miles per hour, a feat never before achieved in golf. This equates to approximately 388.8 kilometers per hour, establishing a new world record for the long-haired American from Maryland.

Just under two weeks later, Berkshire made another record-breaking announcement. In Wyoming, he launched the ball an astonishing 529 meters, aided by a tailwind of 32 km/h.

PGA Tour Money Shower

Early in the year, it became evident that 2023 would be a record-breaking year for players’ wallets, thanks to the generous prize money at PGA Tour Designated Events. In April, Jon Rahm surpassed the prize money record previously held by Scottie Scheffler in the 2020/21 season. Rahm had earned a record-breaking $14,465,840 at that point, driven by four victories, including the Sentry Tournament of Champions, Genesis Invitational, and the Masters, along with five additional top-10 finishes. By the end of the season, Rahm ranked second in the money standings with $16,522,608. Scottie Scheffler, however, outearned everyone, amassing an incredible $21,014,342 during this season.

Categories
Senior Tours

Langer aiming to make more Senior Open history

Bernhard Langer about to write more Senior Open history (foto:getty)
Bernhard Langer about to write more Senior Open history (foto:getty)

Langer is not planning on ending his career anytime soon

The German earlier this month became the most successful player in PGA Tour Champions history when he triumphed at the U.S. Senior Open, securing his 46th over-50s title and 12th Senior Major Championship.

In doing so, Bernhard Langer also became the oldest winner ever on PGA Tour Champions and he has no plans to retire anytime soon, with this week’s Senior Open providing another opportunity to make more history as he looks to secure a third victory at Royal Porthcawl, after his triumphs in 2014 and 2017.

Famous names in the field

There are a plethora of Major Champions, Ryder Cup Captains and proven DP World Tour and PGA TOUR winners on show in South Wales this week, including defending champion Darren Clarke who last year became only the fourth man to win both The Open and The Senior Open.

Fellow Open Champion Pádraig Harrington, who won back-to-back Claret Jugs in 2007 and 2008, will bid to join Clarke, Bob Charles, Gary Player and Tom Watson in that illustrious circle of winners, as will Scotland’s Paul Lawrie, the 1999 Champion Golfer of the Year.

The Welsh charge will be led by 1991 Masters Champion Ian Woosnam, as well 2021 Senior Open winner Stephen Dodd, who won his maiden Senior Major on Sunningdale’s Old Course and Bradley Dredge who is this week making his Legends Tour debut after turning 50 earlier this month.

The most recent Legends Tour Order of Merit winner, James Kingston, and the reigning Charles Schwab Cup Money champion Steven Alker will also tee it up on the Welsh coastline this week.

Some quotes of the players

Bernhard Langer: “Experience is important, and you know, we have different experiences. I probably have far more experience than most guys that are playing in the field. The reason being is I turned pro when I was 15 and I’ve been playing on tour since I was 18, so I’ve been playing a lot more tournaments than most of these guys even though they are similar age.

“Secondly, if you win tournaments, it breeds confidence and confidence breeds winning, so it helps to have good experiences, positive experiences. If you’ve been a playing pro for 25, 30 years and you’ve just been kind of mediocre, it’s hard to believe that you can win, I imagine, because you have not won anything yet or not a lot.

“That’s why I believe Tiger Woods was so dominant as well. He was used to winning and expected to win every time he teed it up and it made winning easier because that’s basically all he ever did to a large percentage. While you play 50 or 100 tournaments, and you don’t ever win or you’re not in the heat, all of a sudden you get in the heat and on the leaderboard, then it becomes like, oh, what’s going on and you know so it’s hard to cope with that I think. Some do it better than others but that’s just one part.

“I’m 66 in a couple of weeks. I’ve made millions of golf swings. I haven’t changed my swing. So I don’t need to practice and I’ve already done that swing hundreds of thousands of times. Does that make sense? When I was younger, I was still developing, one month working on this, one month working on that. Always changing, always evolving, and even though to you it would look the same.

“The time isn’t right yet. The goal is to win a few more. If I enjoy what I’m doing and still healthy, I’ll keep going. Right now I still feel well and feel like I can compete and if that’s the case, I’ll keep going and whenever the time is right, I hope I will know it and not bore you with an 82 or 84 and that kind of stuff.”

Pádraig Harrington: “The wetter the golf course, the better, but not the wetter conditions we play. If it rains for the week, rain and wind nullifies my driver because you don’t want to get going sideways. You’d be trying to knock it down all the time. If the rain dries up and the course stays soft, and it’s digging in and staying short into the next set of bunkers, that would play into my hands but I didn’t go out on the golf course and think, this is the golf course for me. I’ve turned up at Champions tour events, and gone, this is an ideal course, and if I don’t give myself a great chance of winning, I’m failing here this week. This is a great links golf course. Ball flight, ball shape, the direction you’re hitting, spin rates are all very important in terms of getting out there. It’s not necessarily raw speed that’s going to do the job.

“I was very happy with the game up through three rounds last week, and you know, then I started working on a few things so I’m with where I’m at. I’m looking forward to getting on the golf course and I could do with a few more putts and all professional golfers say that. I’m waiting to get out there and play. It is an interesting course. There’s a staggering of bunkers everywhere, so it’s not — I don’t necessarily go to a golf course and go, this is the one for me, that I can carry all of the trouble. The trouble is staggered nicely, so you’ve just got to play good golf this week. It doesn’t set up as a huge advantage to me, this golf course.”

Darren Clarke: “I’m looking forward to it. The last time played here at Royal Porthcawl was 1988 in the European Team Championships for Ireland, so I’ve sort of forgotten how wonderful the golf course is.

“I think I said last year whenever I did manage to win it, as soon as I turned 50 my goal and my dream was to win the Senior Open, the British Senior Open after winning the main Open, and I was able to change that last year. That being said, I’d dearly love to defend this week. When you walk into Royal Portrush, there’s a display cap there up on the right-hand side and both my replica Claret Jug and replica Senior Claret Jug are sitting side by side.”

Ian Woosnam: “It’s always great to have a major tournament in Wales. We’ve had the Ryder Cup here a couple of times. It’s a great spot. Let’s hope the rain does go over a little bit.

“Depends where the wind is blowing from. If it’s blowing off the sea it’s very difficult, and especially when you play like the second, third, fourth, they are tricky holes but it’s a lovely area. It’s right on the sea as you can see, and it’s a beautiful part of the world.

“I don’t play much golf these days. It’s more of a challenge getting around walking than playing golf but I’ll try my best and see what I can do.”

Categories
Highlights Tours

WATCH: Rare interview with Bernhard Langer Masters 2021

Image: Getty

Golf Post was invited to take part in an exclusive interview with Bernhard Langer after yesterday’s first round.

From Lee Elder to shuttle buses, find out what the two-time Masters Champion had to say about his experience at yesterday’s event.

Follow the second round of this year’s Masters with live scoring from Golf Post.

Categories
Reports

Bernhard Langer talks to Mercedes-Benz: Mercedes-Maybach GLS

Image: Mercedes-Benz
Image: Mercedes-Benz

Earlier this week you were able to experience the Mercedes-Maybach GLS. What do you think of the car?

BL: I really like it. It’s a fantastic car, both visually and in terms of luxury and space. This for sure is the benchmark when it comes to a luxury SUV. Mercedes-Maybach stands for luxury at its best and this is the proof point. Beyond the interior and exterior design, which I really like, I especially appreciate the comfort. I guess you can’t get more comfort within a SUV. Definitely the perfect choice when you go on a (golf) trip with friends or family.

If you could take your family and friends out on a trip in the Mercedes-Maybach GLS. Where would you go?

BL: I guess in the US it could be almost everywhere, but definitely outside the big cities and closer to mountains and nature. Colorado and Utah would be good spots. In Europe it would be definitely the
Alps. I could imagine starting at my hometown in Bavaria and from there straight to the Alps – yes, that would be the perfect route.

This week at The Masters, all players get their very own dedicated Mercedes-Benz. Do you prefer a shuttle service or driving by yourself like this week at the Masters?


BL: Oh, I like being shuttled but it is always nice to hold the steering wheel yourself. It calms me down and lets me have a relaxed start into the day. The approach to the ANGC’s premises on
Magnolia Lane towards the club house is always a special sight. In addition, my own vehicle provides me with added safety as part of all the measures to protect against COVID-19.

After a dedicated Mercedes-Benz car at Augusta, what and where will you be driving next?


BL: I will be enjoying my own Mercedes-Benz back in Florida. I really like driving my own car, especially when I have the chance to take it to tournaments on the PGA Tour Champions.

You also were able to take a seat in the all-new Mercedes-Benz EQS with its Hyperscreen. What were your thoughts when you had a look at this feature?

BL: This for sure is the biggest screen I have ever seen in a car. But it makes perfectly sense and means a new level of driving assistance. It is like your personal caddy in your car. With its curved form, it reminds me of a golf hole from above.

(Text: Mercedes Benz)