In early February, Bernhard Langer suffered a torn Achilles tendon, forcing him to miss Augusta National for the second time since 1983.
But earlier this week, Langer said on the Musings on Golf podcast: Revealed how he ruptured his Achilles tendon.
“I do all kinds of sports to stay healthy. This was part of my fitness plan,” Langer explained.
“I was playing pickleball and someone was trying to lob me. I took a few steps back and it hit me over the head, and when I landed on the ground with both feet, I heard a very loud, gunshot-like sound. I heard a loud pop. I immediately knew I had a ruptured Achilles tendon.”
Langer underwent surgery on his Achilles tendon the next day.
One of the most serious injuries in sports, an Achilles tendon rupture typically takes six months to a year to fully recover. But Langer hopes to return to the PGA Tour Champions at the Insperity Invitational in early May. This would be about three months since he burst while playing pickleball.
Still, Langer plans to visit the Masters this year to attend Tuesday night’s Champions Dinner, hosted by Jon Rahm.
The 66-year-old German hosted the dinner twice in the years after his victory in 1985 and 1993.
In 1985, Langer shot a 4-under 68 in the final round, beating out Seve Ballesteros, Raymond Floyd and Curtis Strange. Langer entered the day trailing Floyd by two points.
Eight years later, Langer started the final round with a four-stroke lead and closed with a 2-under 70 on Sunday to beat Chip Beck by four.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
