AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bernhard Langer stated years in the past, he requested Augusta Nationwide officers if there was an age restrict for previous champions to obtain an exemption to return to play on the Masters.
“You will know when it is time,” he was advised.
On Monday, Langer, 67 and a two-time winner of the inexperienced jacket in 1985 and 1993, stated it is obvious that it is time. His forty first Masters look can be his final.
“It’s totally emotional,” Langer stated. “After 4 many years, it may be bittersweet. I knew it was time to name it quits as a participant.”
Langer has dominated the Champions Tour with a report 47 profession wins, together with not less than one in every of the previous 18 years. However he stated throughout his observe spherical Sunday that he realized once more he isn’t outfitted to compete at Augusta Nationwide anymore at 7,510 yards.
“The course is simply getting too lengthy and I am getting shorter and shorter,” he stated. “I knew I wasn’t going to be in rivalry anymore. I most likely ought to have give up a number of years in the past as a result of the place I am driving it, I generally cannot see the flag. There’s par-4s once I’m hitting 3-wood into the inexperienced when different guys are hitting 8-irons, 9-irons, 7-irons. This course will not be constructed to be hitting these form of golf equipment.”
Langer had deliberate for final 12 months to be his final, however then injured his Achilles whereas enjoying pickleball in February 2024, and needed to skip the event to rehab. He stated returning to Augusta was a giant a part of his rehab motivation, however simply getting again to having the ability merely stand or stroll was tough. The well-known hills of Augusta now pose a special take a look at than in years previous.
“I have been enjoying aggressive golf, I feel, since Could or so final 12 months … however I have been driving a golf cart more often than not,” Langer stated. “I walked 18 holes yesterday [in a practice round], and I used to be completely exhausted and finished. I used to be glad I might do it, however strolling 5 – 6 days in a row on this terrain, it may be actually laborious.”
Langer walked into the interview room and joked that it had been some time since he’d been there. He watched a video of highlights of his profession whereas holding again his emotion, saying afterward that coming from Anhausen, Germany, a village of 500 individuals thus far has been an “unimaginable journey.”
He joked about his trendy all-red outfit he wore in his first win in 1985, saying he at all times tells Tiger Woods, “I used to be the one sporting a purple shirt first; you got here later.” He recalled his spouse greeting him eight years later after his second championship, however this time with three kids.
“Often I am fairly good compartmentalizing, so once I’m contained in the ropes, my thoughts switches to being a competitor, play golf and handle the duty in entrance of me,” he stated. “However I would get a bit emotional trying round and the spectators, seeing my household, my youngsters, my grandkids, my brother and different pals which might be going to be supporting me this week.”
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