Only one word can describe what Bernhard Langer did at Phoenix Country Club on Sunday.
oh.
Langer, 67, who tore his Achilles tendon in February, sunk 40 feet for birdie on the 18th hole at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, beating Stephen Alker and Richard Green by a stroke. He finished the match in style, earning his 47th career victory on the PGA Tour Champions. This is also Langer's 18th consecutive win on the senior circuit.
“Yeah, unbelievable, really unbelievable. He just defies everything. He's a really great golfer,” Langer's Ernie Els said after the match.
“The golf course plays very well. It suits his game very well. He doesn't play too long and has to hit the fairway to get to the green. And he He looks like he's having a great performance. I saw some highlights there and he's making some long putts. He's just a great player and a great asset to our game.”
Langer updated his age for the third day in a row. He shot a 5-under 66 on Sunday, but it wasn't easy. He made a whopping six birdies at the front and finished at 6 under 30, making Langer's victory seem all but certain. However, he stumbled on the back nine and suffered three bogeys, but it was his drop shot on the par-4 17th hole that had even more serious consequences. Langer hit his second shot off a tree and was lucky to escape with only bogey. Meanwhile, his playing partner Alker, who won the Charles Schwab Cup earlier in the season, made a birdie to tie Langer at 17 under with one hole remaining.
after that, Langer did the unthinkable on the 18th.was plagued by injuries and ended a season with ups and downs.
“I'm speechless. Was it exciting or what? It was really unbelievable to start in front and I was totally on board,” Langer said.
“He played well, but he fell apart a little bit on the back nine and Steven Alker started moving. We didn't see any of Richard Green's work. Obviously, he must have played great on the back nine as well. Terry, caddy. , after hitting the wedge [on 18]he says, “Okay, one more putt to go.'' ”
Langer started the day with a one-stroke lead in a tournament he didn't even think he would qualify for earlier this summer. Only the top 36 players in the Charles Schwab Cup standings qualify for the phonics finale, and Langer easily made it through despite his injury. He ultimately finished seventh in the final standings.
“It's unbelievable, it's indescribable,” Langer added.
“After everything I've been through, to be able to win this big tournament and win here for 17, maybe 18 years in a row is pretty amazing, because I've only won five tournaments. Because when I played in the tournament, I won. I'm very grateful, I'm very blessed. I want to thank the Lord for everything he has done for me.”
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.
