Bernhard Langer bid farewell to the DP World Tour on Friday at the BMW International Open.
He shot even par 71-73 and missed the cut. Munich Eckenried Golf Club in Munich, Germany, is about 45 minutes from where the 66-year-old grew up.
Fifty-two years later, Langer, a two-time Masters champion, 42 victories on what was then the European Tour and 46 on the Champions Tour, is saying goodbye to golf, or at least to the DP World Tour.
On Friday, he became emotional, crying while playing the 18th hole and speaking to the media after the game.
“It's hard to put it into words,” Langer said after the match. “It's a dream come true for me, growing up in a village of 800 people where no one knew what golf was.”
“It was a weird situation where people didn't know anything about it. Even when I tried to become a professional golfer after graduation, people didn't know what it was or even that it didn't exist in a way. It was very difficult and complicated, but it was my dream. I was able to live this dream for 50 years.”
Langer went on 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 Asia, Australia, Japan, the United States, South Africa. I was able to travel the world and meet kings and queens,” he said. “I played golf with all kinds of people, whether they were successful businessmen or just ordinary butchers or bricklayers, and it was fun and great.”
As soon as Langer finished his round, he took off his goggles to the cheers of the German fans. The golf legend hugged two of his fellow German compatriots, Marcel Simm and Martin Kaymer, who followed him.
He gave the crowd a thumbs-up, blew kisses and hugged family and friends. Then he signed his scorecard.
It was a miracle to see Langer on the course at all after he tore his Achilles tendon in February. He missed the Masters in March but returned three months later to play on the 50+ Tour. The German golfer returned to action at the Insperity Invitational in late April.
He 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 Leigh Richardson is SB Nation’s Playing Through golf columnist. For more golf coverage, follow us on @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
