Germany’s evergreen Bernhard Langer has rewritten Masters history in becoming the oldest player to make the cut at the Masters.
At age 63 years, 2 months and 17 days, Langer moved ahead of American Tommy Aaron with the 1973 Masters champion being aged 63 years, 1 month, 16 days old when he made the cut in the 2000 Masters. Langer made his Masters debut in 1982 and then three years later became the first German-born player to win a major. 11-years later he posted a final round 70 to remarkably capture a second Augusta National green jacket.
This year marked Langer’s 37th Masters, achieving the accomplishment of being the oldest to make the cut in his 126th round of the famed Georgia course.
“My knees are shot right now and my wife just said, you’re not going to hit balls, are you? I said, no, no chance,” said Langer, smiling after rounds of 68 and 73 for a four-under par tally.
“I’m done. I played 27 holes today or 26, and this is one of the hilliest courses we play, and when it’s wet, it’s even a harder walk. I will now go do some stretching and I will do workouts, but again, it’s a young man’s course in many ways. It’s a hard walk around here on any day because you’re not just walking down and up, there’s a lot of side hill, as well, which a lot of people have shin splint problems and their feet are hurting, their knees, even their hips and their backs sometimes going out. So it’s not an easy place to walk, but it’s a wonderful place to walk.”
And in the follow-up to questions commemorating his achievement the always approachable Langer was asked: Can an older golfer win here? I ask because Phil said if he played better, do you think because of the knowledge?
“Yeah, Phil has the knowledge and Phil has the length still definitely to compete and probably to win, so it’s just a matter of can he do it four days in a row and find his best game,” Langer said.
Langer’s questions took a turn post-round after that: It’s Friday the 13th; do you follow any golf superstitions or have any golf rituals out there?
“My parents got married Friday the 13th. It’s a wonderful day for me. I wouldn’t be here otherwise. I have no superstitions whatsoever. I love the 13th, and no issues here.
‘You’re the oldest player to make the cut,’ they asked. “How about that? I’ll drink to that.” ‘What are you drinking?’ “Shandy,” Langer smiled before going into how much victory means.
“Well, it’s not easy to do it. There have been so many great players here before me, including the ones we just talked about, from Jack Nicklaus to Gary Player to all the greats that have competed here, and to be the oldest to make the cut, it’s certainly an achievement. Hopefully I get to play a few more years and enjoy this place.”
Congratulations and well played Bernhard.
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