Bernhard Langer details “painful” prospect of Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie

Bernhard Langer has been a warrior ever since his childhood in West Germany.

But this week at Carnoustie, site of the 2024 Senior Open Championship, Langer faces a new challenge – one that could be an uphill battle given he ruptured his Achilles tendon on Feb. 1. The two-time Masters champion will be treading the ground on a Scottish golf course for the first time since suffering the injury during a pickleball match.

“In America we have the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), which I’m covered under right now because I ruptured my Achilles tendon, so you can get a golf cart in America. There are about eight or 10 people who have golf carts at the moment – Vijay Singh, Paul Broadhurst, John Daly – but most of them don’t have golf carts in America,” Langer said.

“But they still make the journey, they still try to walk despite the pain and difficulties. To be honest, some of us don’t even know if we’ll be able to walk. I haven’t walked 18 holes four times since last year, since my injury. I’ve only walked 18 holes twice. I don’t know if I can do it, but I hope I can.”

Langer has played on the PGA Tour Champions six times since returning from a three-month injury hiatus in early May, but he’s used a golf cart for transportation each time, and has two top-10 finishes in that span, including a tie for third at the Principal Charity Classic in early June.

Langer also competed in the BMW International Open in his home town of Munich, his first DP World Tour appearance in 50 years.

“My game isn’t too bad, it’s just a matter of walking, so I can swing and rotate with my feet,” Langer explained.

Photo: Brennan Asplan/Getty Images

“Every day the swelling comes up so I can’t practice as much as I would like. And then at the end of the day my ankle is so swollen it’s hard to move my foot and walk. Sometimes my swing gets worse as the day goes on, which is not good. So I have to be patient. But considering what I’ve been through, my golf isn’t that bad.”

Indeed, Langer’s performance has been impressive since his return. After winning the Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie in 2010, he finished tied for 42nd at the U.S. Senior Open in Newport, Rhode Island, this season.

However, Langer never won the British Open during his prime; instead, he finished in the top 10 eight times and was runner-up twice. In 1981, American Bill Rogers won his only major title, beating Langer by four strokes at Royal St. George’s. Three years later, in the greatest British Open ever, Langer finished tied for second with Tom Watson, two strokes behind Seve Ballesteros.

Despite this, Langer remains as driven and focused as anyone.

“This is definitely one of the highlights of every season,” Langer said.

“Obviously we all play to win major tournaments but it’s the only major tournament on the continent and, if you’re healthy, it’s usually on the schedule. It’s good to be back at Carnoustie.”

Langer is healthy enough to play this week and is looking to win his fifth Senior Open title. He already has an impressive record with four wins. Still, if he manages to pull off a win this week, it will undoubtedly be the most notable win of his career, given the pain he has to endure.

Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.