Bernhard Langer discusses 'special and unique' career, final Masters

This year is the second time La Paloma Country Club hosted the Cologuard Classic by Exact Sciences but for Bernhard Langer, it’s the first time playing at the new venue for Tucson’s annual PGA Tour Champions event.

Just a month before last year’s Cologuard Classic, Langer ruptured his Achilles tendon playing pickleball.

Langer’s pickleball career was cut short after two years of “playing on and off,” he said. The 67-year-old Langer was advised by his doctor to never play pickleball, “but you never know,” he said.

In November, less than a year after his Achilles injury, Langer won the Charles Schwab Cup Open in Phoenix and extended his streak of seasons with a tournament victory to 18 — a PGA Tour Champions record. Langer also owns the record for the most PGA Tour Champions wins (47) and is the oldest player to win a PGA Tour Champions event.

For Langer, who won the Cologuard Classic at Omni Tucson National in 2020, returning to Tucson “is wonderful.”

“It’s one of those towns, cities that we’ve come to for many, many years,” Langer told the Star. “The PGA Tour has great history here and I played this course first time on Tuesday. It’s quite a challenge. Very tight, very narrow and you gotta control your golf ball, hit it very straight in precise distances, as well.”

Leading up to his opening round at the Cologuard Classic, the Star caught up with Langer about being victorious in Tucson, Achilles recovery, his upcoming final hurrah at the Masters Tournament and his legendary career.

It’s the five-year anniversary of your victory at the Cologuard Classic. What do you remember about that win?

A: “It’s one of those traditional tournaments. The golf course, we played it for so many years on the PGA Tour and then on the Champions Tour. I had come close (to winning) once or twice, but never got the golden helmet. I finally pulled it off five years ago and that was pretty cool. ... It’s a great atmosphere and a lot of tradition here.”

How was the experience going through Achilles rehab?

A: “I never really had too many serious injuries in my life. ... It was tough the first few months, just lying around and trying to do some rehab, but I couldn’t walk, couldn’t stand, had to use a scooter to rest my bad leg and then moved on to crutches, constantly wearing a boot, things like that. But I came back fairly quickly and was able to play tournament golf in about three months, which was pretty miraculous.”

How did it feel to win your first event since the Achilles injury?

A: “It felt amazing. To win at 67 is incredible. Nobody’s ever done that before on this tour and after having that injury and having to deal with that for most of the year, the whole thing was just amazing. It was, in a way, unexpected, even though I kind of knocked on the door once or twice a few weeks before that. ... So it seemed like the odds were all against me, but I knew it was my last chance to win and to extend the winning every year since I’ve been out here.”

This year is your last Masters Tournament, a tournament you’ve won twice in your career. How do you feel about your final go-around at Augusta National?

A: “It’s going be a sweet-and-sour experience. It’s one of my favorite places in the world to play golf. Had a lot of success there and it’s going to be very emotional. I think I played my last European Tour event last year in the summer in Munich, where I grew up, and that was pretty emotional. I think this will maybe be more emotional. Just gonna have all my kids and grandkids there, a lot of friends. Some are flying in from Europe, many American friends. I might have tears in my eyes coming up 18 when it’s time to say goodbye as a player. The good news is I can still come back, even if I don’t play the tournament and be part of the festivities and just be part of the tournament.”

How do you reflect on your PGA Tour Champions accomplishments and career?

A: “I think it’s very unique in this game of golf that we can actually have almost like a second career. Most athletes are done when they’re in their 30s or 40s; not with golf. Golf is a very technical game, a mental game, so you don’t have to necessarily be strong and fit to play very good golf. It helps to be that, but there’s always the odd guy that may be a little overweight or maybe not the greatest of athletes, but he’s got tremendous technique and can hit the ball far and all that. It’s been wonderful to have been playing golf, competitive golf, for that long. Even most guys that play on the Champions Tour, most of them kind of retire when they get at the end of their 50s or early 60s. I’m now 67 and I’m still out here competing at the highest level. That’s very special and unique. I’m very blessed to be able to have done that.”

Weathering the elements

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

As Bryan Goettel, the directory of advocacy at Exact Sciences, walked through the tunnel beneath Sunrise Drive toward the first tee Friday, he ran into a reporter.

“You brought the weather from Madison,” the reporter said.

“You’re welcome,” Goettel joked.

By Madison, Wisconsin, standards, Friday’s chilly conditions weren’t that bad. Temperatures were in the mid-40s when players teed off at 10:10 a.m. But the rain mostly had subsided at that point, and the wind was minimal.

Still, it wasn’t what anyone was hoping for in Tucson in early March — especially the crew from Madison-based Exact Sciences, the sponsor of the Cologuard Classic.

Because it was still drizzling Friday morning, the opening ceremony was moved from the 15th green to the clubhouse. Despite gray clouds hanging over the Santa Catalina Mountains, the military flyover proceeded as scheduled. At 9:34 a.m., a C-130 Hercules soared over La Paloma Country Club before banking left in front of the mountains and heading back to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

Cologuard Classic volunteers and supporters spilled out of the clubhouse to watch the flyover. Some wore ponchos. Most sported North Face or Columbia jackets, ski caps and gloves.

After the flyover, a deejay began playing music. The songs included, ironically, “5 Seconds of Summer” by Youngblood.

Australia’s Cameron Percy was part of the first group on the first tee. He wore a gray sweater and a black ski cap with a blue ribbon fastened to the back.

“I keep telling myself, ‘Sunday is going to be glorious,’” Goettel said.

It looks that way. The forecast for the weekend is promising — sunny with a high of 62 Saturday; 75 and sunny Sunday.

By the numbers

327 — Cancer survivors who attended last year’s Cologuard Classic

584 — Volunteers who helped at last year’s tournament

41,182 — Attendance at last year’s tournament

He said it

“That’s always very different and very unique. Whenever you represent your country, your flag, that means a great deal no matter what. I’m sure these guys are excited and thrilled to be here representing Germany, as was I when I played in the World Cup or Ryder Cup or whatever team championships where I did represent Germany.” — Langer, on Germany participating in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers in Tucson this week