BOCA RATON (Fla.) – Bernhard Langer sets a higher standard than we mortals.
The Boca Raton resident has won 43 times on the PGA Tour Champions in the last 15 months and is now the oldest champion on tour. He also won his sixth Charles Schwab Cup, a record. He not only shot his age twice, the first time coming on HTML64th birthday but also beat his age by a 63.
Langer was hesitant to answer questions about his year in the 2022 TimberTech Champion, which begins Friday at Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. He said that there were some good moments, but not as many than the past dozen years when he has dominated the 50-and older circuit.
Langer stated, “It’s been an excellent year, not as good as the previous 12 or 13 but they were exceptional good.”
He could be called a victim to his own success.
Langer, now 65, is entering his 50th year as a professional golfer. He has been the best player for 15 years on the PGA Tour Champions. The best player over 50 in the world? This is due to his natural decline as he gets older.
The best player over 60 is… No question.
Padraig Harrington, 51, said that he was someone he admires the most as a professional. He’s one of the best professionals out there and has gotten the most from his game. I’m not surprised at what he does. He is fit and strong.”
Langer has won $10.76 Million in three decades playing on the PGA Tour. Langer has added $33.33million to his wealth since joining the PGA Tour Champions. Although his 43 victories are two less than Hale Irwin’s record, his 11 Champions circuit majors are the best and four more than Irwin.
Langer has won two TimberTech titles and is the only golfer who has won that event more than once.
He might even consider a mah-jongg lifestyle and early bird meals. Or he could turn his competitive nature into a pickleball court.
He’s not there yet.
Langer’s golf bag does not have retirement plans
Langer stated that he is getting closer to the point where he thinks about it when he talks about throwing away the sticks. “I have not thought about it much so far. “I always believed that if I feel good, healthy, and enjoy my work, then I will continue to do it.”
Langer, 65, is a rare player or a model. Langer is in great shape and has a strong commitment to his fitness. Langer began making “Burn Baby Bern”, exercise videos that he created during the pandemic. These videos usually end with him in his swimming pool.
Langer admitted that his priorities have changed — he was eager to be home on Thursday to take pictures with his four grandchildren, but the drive is there. Langer is disappointed that he is currently seventh in the Schwab Cup standings, and is not likely to win the championship this season.
After winning the Charles Schwab Cup for the entire season, Bernhard Langer celebrates at Phoenix Country Club’s final round of 2021 Charles Schwab Cub Championship. (Photo: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports)
His game is different. They can’t be.
When asked about the fastest ageing, he replied that it was a bit of everything. “The body begins to ache everywhere. It’s different for different parts of your body.
It could be as low as 2% here or as high at 2% there. I noticed that I am getting shorter. This makes a difference. You can hit a shorter shot if you are 10 yards from the tee. If the other guys are hitting 7-iron, I’m hitting 4-iron. A 7- or 8 iron will be closer to the hole than a 4iron almost every time.
Langer’s 4 and all other iron are still better than others.
Langer shot his age in the Ally Challenge in Michigan on August 27, 2021…on his birthday. He beat his age three months later with a 63 at the Schwab Cup Championship held at the Phoenix Country Club. It was his best round.
Langer believes that he has equaled his age five times but doesn’t remember thinking about it as often as he did the day he turned 64.
He was constantly reminded of his age throughout the day.
He said, “I don’t usually think about stuff like this but I was aware of that.” “Since it had been my birthday, people were shouting from the stands and singing Happy Birthday.”
Langer has been celebrating one more birthday since then. This means that Langer’s age may be easier to photograph as each year goes by.
