Bernhard Langer has established a new record in the PGA Tour Champions for the most career victories. The 65-year-old German golfer secured his 46th win at the U.S. Senior Open held at SentryWorld in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Langer’s final round saw him shoot a commendable 1-under-par 70, breaking the tie he had with fellow Hall of Famer Hale Irwin.
Reflecting on his accomplishment, Langer credited his longevity to his good genes and mentioned that his mother will be turning 100 on August 4th. His victory not only solidifies his position as the oldest winner on the 50-and-over tour at 65 years, 10 months, and 5 days, but it also leaves him hopeful for more successful years ahead in his career.
Despite facing some challenges towards the end of the tournament with bogeys on the final three holes of the tree-lined course, Langer maintained a seven-stroke lead on the back nine, securing a two-stroke victory over Steve Stricker. Langer expressed his surprise at achieving such a significant milestone at the U.S. Senior Open, emphasizing the prestige of the tournament and the high level of competition, particularly from Stricker and Jerry Kelly on their home turf.
Langer completed the tournament with a final score of 7-under 277, placing him among the select group of only eight players who managed to break par for the entire week. While Langer acknowledges that he experiences more aches and pains compared to a decade ago, he still finds joy in the game and intends to continue playing as long as he performs at a high level. Although there have been moments when he questioned his presence on the course, he is motivated to keep competing rather than retire and spend more time with his grandkids.
Langer’s victory at the U.S. Senior Open adds to his impressive list of accomplishments. Having previously won the 2010 U.S. Senior Open at Sahalee outside Seattle, he now extends his record for senior major wins to 12, further solidifying his status as one of the legends of the sport.
Steve Stricker, a local from Madison, Wisconsin, finished with a strong performance, sinking birdies on three of the last five holes to end the tournament with a score of 69. Stricker expressed admiration for Langer’s consistent excellence and expressed hope that he and other players can maintain their performance levels for an extended period, inspired by Langer’s achievements.
Langer entered the final round with a two-shot lead over Jerry Kelly and managed to birdie the first two holes for the second consecutive day. He continued his impressive performance, birdying the fifth and seventh holes with a bogey in between. Langer’s birdie on the tenth hole marked the beginning of the back nine, and he went on to par the following five holes before concluding the round with three bogeys.
Jerry Kelly secured third place in the tournament, finishing with a score of 4 after shooting a 71 on the final day. Reflecting on his performance, Kelly admitted to feeling overly excited, which led to a faster pace and more talking than usual.
Rob Labritz, who shot a 69 on Sunday, and Brett Quigley, who posted a score of 66, tied for fourth place with a score of 2 under. They were followed by Retief Goosen from South Africa, Steven Alker from New Zealand, and Dicky Pride, who finished at 1 under, shooting scores of 71, 65, and 69, respectively.