German golf legend Bernhard Langer etched his name in the history books once again by clinching the U.S. Senior Open title at SentryWorld. This victory marks his 46th on the PGA Tour Champions, surpassing Hale Irwin's previous record.
At 65 years, 10 months, and 5 days old, Langer also extended his own record as the oldest champion on the senior tour. He attributed his longevity in part to good genes, referencing his mother who is approaching her 100th birthday.
Langer's final round included a dramatic finish. Despite holding a comfortable seven-stroke lead on the back nine, he bogeyed the final three holes, finishing with a 1-under 70. This resulted in a two-stroke victory over Wisconsin native and fan favorite, Steve Stricker.
Langer expressed his elation at achieving the record-breaking win at such a prestigious tournament, particularly given the strong competition from players like Stricker and Jerry Kelly, who were competing on their home turf. His 7-under 277 was a testament to his skill, with only eight players finishing under par for the tournament. Langer significantly surpassed the previous age record set by Allen Doyle in 2006.
This victory also marks Langer's 12th senior major championship, further solidifying his legacy. His win at the Chubb Classic earlier in the year tied him with Irwin, setting the stage for this historic moment. Stricker, who had won the first two senior majors of the year and a recent event in his hometown of Madison, acknowledged Langer's remarkable consistency and longevity, praising his ability to maintain such a high level of play for so long. Stricker attributed his own second-place finish to inconsistent play throughout the tournament.
Jerry Kelly, also from Madison, finished third at 4 under par. He admitted to feeling overly excited and rushed during the final round, which impacted his performance. Langer's round started strong with birdies on the first two holes, mirroring his performance the previous day. He added another birdie on the fifth, offsetting a bogey on the sixth with a birdie on the seventh. A birdie on the 10th kicked off his back nine, but the final three bogeys narrowed his margin of victory.
Langer's strategic approach of prioritizing accuracy over distance, opting for 3-wood off the tee to avoid the challenging rough, proved crucial to his success. This allowed him to stay in contention and ultimately secure the historic win, earning him a spot in next year's U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
