Bernhard Langer said his farewell to the DP World Tour on Friday at the BMW International Open.
He finished at par with a score of 71-73 and missed the cut at Golf Club München-Eichenried in Munich, Germany, a course about 45 minutes from where the 66-year-old grew up.
Langer has won the Masters twice, 42 tournaments on the old European Tour and 46 tournaments on the Champions Tour. After 52 years, he’s had another first as he says goodbye to golf, or at least to the DP World Tour.
He became emotional on Friday, having to hold back tears throughout the 18th hole and while speaking with media after the round.
“It’s hard to put into words,” Langer said after his round. “For me, growing up in a village of 800 people where no one knew what golf was, it’s a dream come true.”
“Nobody knew. It was a strange situation. Even when I left school to try to become a golf pro, people didn’t even know what it was. In a way, it didn’t even exist as a profession. It was very difficult and complicated, but that was my dream. I was able to make that dream come true for 50 years.”
Langer continued to express in words what his career and the DP World Tour means to him.
“I have great memories all over the world, not just in Europe but in Asia, Australia, Japan, America, South Africa – I’ve travelled the world and met kings and queens,” he said. “I’ve played golf with everyone from successful businessmen to your average butcher or bricklayer. It was fun and it was great.”
Langer removed his visor after the match to huge cheers from the German fans, and the golfing legend embraced fellow Germans Marcel Siem and Martin Kaymer as they followed him.
He gave thumbs up to the crowd, blew kisses, hugged family and friends and signed the scorecard.
It’s been a miracle Langer has been back on the golf course since he ruptured his Achilles tendon in February. He missed the Masters Tournament in March but returned to the Over-50 Tour three months later. The German golfer made his comeback at the end of April at the Insperity Invitational.
Langer also attempted to defend his U.S. Senior Open title at Newport Country Club in June. Langer finished tied for 42nd at 2 over par.
Savannah Lee Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow us for more golf articles. Follow You can follow us on all major social platforms. You can also follow us on Twitter Follow Instagram: @savannah_leigh_sports
