At an age when many Champions Tour golfers are on the back nine of their careers when it comes to consistently contending, Boca’s Bernhard Langer is talking about giving the youngsters on the PGA Tour a run for their money at the 2015 Masters. And for good reason.
At 57, Langer is coming off not only the greatest year of his Champions Tour career but a season during which he shot a final-round 69 at Augusta to tie for eighth. Langer set a Champions Tour record in 2014 with $3,074,189 in earnings; his five victories, two of them majors, upped his Champions total to 23 wins since 2007.
On the eve of his opening round at this year’s Allianz Championship, Langer spoke with reporters at the Old Course at Broken Sound about last year’s accomplishments and this year’s goals. (Editor’s note: Langer tees off Friday at 11:10 a.m. in a group that includes 2013 winner Rocco Mediate. Visitallianzchampionship.com for tournament info.)
On his success in 2014: “My game was just solid. I drove the ball well, I drove it long, I drove it straight, I hit more greens than anybody’s ever hit in the game of golf since we’re doing statistics on any tour. … The putting was fairly solid. … There were only a few days when it was weak. All together, I had the lowest scoring average of the year. You add all that up, and it becomes a fantastic year. If you can hit a lot of greens in regulation and still be up there in putting somewhat and have the lowest scoring average, you’re going to win tournaments.”
On his goals for 2015: “It’s a process, but you want to become better. I believe I can still get better. Every tournament I play, there’s shots, there’s putts, there’s chips, there’s things I could have done better. … People always say, ‘Oh, the game is so mental.’ It is mental, but let’s say you have an 18 handicap, and [we play]. You have no chance to beat me. If you’re the best mental 18 in the world, and I’m the worst pro thinker in the world, you still have no chance. I’m going to beat you. So mental is only important when you have similar competitors. Then the guy that’s mentally better is going to be the winner, but not if you have no technique.”
On playing The Masters in April: “Playing four rounds is not an issue. I can go eight rounds; it makes no difference. It’s a tough course to walk, but that’s the least of my worries, to walk the golf course. It’s a very long golf course. I hit 3‑wood [last year on holes that] Bubba [Watson] hit 7‑iron. That’s the worry. … But I’ve had a different mind-set the last two years, and it worked great. I’m going to have that same mind-set again, that I want to be in contention. I believe I’m a good enough player to be in contention at the Masters even as old as I am and as long as the golf course is. I’m not there … just to hopefully make the cut. I’m there to hopefully be in contention and to have a run at the green jacket.”
