Bernhard Langer hit his second shot on the 18th hole on Friday using a driver.
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Bernhard Langer, who has won two Masters titles, 42 victories on the old European Tour and a record 46 on the over-50 tour in a 52-year career, experienced the first of his life. He said he was not sure how he would react.
After all, Langer said he never said goodbye to golf.
“I have a feeling it’s going to be thrilling,” the 66-year-old told the DP World Tour website.
Of course he would. Although the game suggested otherwise — maybe something otherworldly, maybe some kind of robot — he was human. Things eventually turned tearful Friday at the Munich Eikenried Golf Club in Munich, Germany, about 45 minutes from where Langer grew up. Earlier, he had said this week's BMW International Open would be his last on the European Tour after 512 tournaments, and after a 1-under 71 and a 1-over 73, Langer missed the weekend tournament by three shots.
Afterward, he removed his goggles on the 18th fairway as the faithful cheered. He hugged fellow German Marcel Siem. He hugged fellow German Martin Kaymer. They all followed him. Langer gave the crowd a thumbs-up. He waved. He blew kisses. He greeted family and friends. He signed autographs.
They then asked what the tour meant to him and how he thought the tour would go this week.
“It’s hard to put it into words,” he said on camera for the Golf Channel.
“Well, for me, it's kind of like a dream come true, you know, I grew up in a village of only 800 people, and nobody knew what golf was. When I told my classmates I was going to play golf, they thought I was crazy, they thought I was a mini golf player or something. So people had no idea. It was a really strange situation, even when I graduated and tried to become a golf professional, people didn't know what that was, and in a way there was no golf career, so it was very difficult, it was complicated, but it was my dream.”
At this point, Lange paused. He paused. He apologized. Then he continued.
“Yes, I have been living this dream for 50 years, 51 years now. There are wonderful memories all over the world, not only in Europe, but in Asia, Australia, Japan, the United States, almost everywhere, South Africa. Being able to travel the world, meet kings and queens, play golf with all kinds of people, whether they are successful businessmen or ordinary butchers or masons. It's fun. It's great. Yes, I have had a lot of ups and downs in my career. There have been difficult times, with Yips and other things, but I have also had a lot of great moments.
“It's an honor to play with the Big Five – Sevilla [Ballesteros] and [Nick] Faldo and [Sandy] Lyle and Woosey [Ian Woosnam]… I think we inspired each other. I believe we probably made the tour what it is today in the ’80s and ’90s, where it was fun to play against those guys, and the young guys today are getting a lot out of it.”
But something else happened as Friday came to a close.
A driver left the deck.
Of course, Langer will try. Do you think he will stop his drive on the par-5 18th after hitting it left of the fairway? Do you think he can't get it onto the green, which has water on the right and a bunker on the left? Do you think he will play it cautiously after hobbling on Friday with a torn Achilles tendon in February?
No, that's a driver. Arnold Palmer did the same thing in 2004, the last time he played on the PGA Tour.
It’s worth noting that sirens were blaring in the background on Friday.
“He got the driver, didn't he?” an announcer on the radio said. “He got the driver. Come on. Come on, play this green.”
Langer swung and missed.
He leaned forward. The ball flew into the right spot.
It landed about 50 yards from the green. It rolled into the water. The spectators wailed. If it had flown straighter, it probably would have made it.
Lange then burst out laughing.
“Oh, he tried,” one announcer said. “He was an entertainer from beginning to end.”
“It's awesome that he finally tried it,” an announcer said. “It's his last shot, his last long shot. You know, why not? Hit it with a driver, the hardest shot in the game.”
But if you're a Lange fan, there's good news.
He will continue to play in the PGA Tour Champions and will compete in the Masters again next April, but that will be his last time at Augusta National Golf Club.
Langer also made par on the 18th hole on Friday.
He dropped the ball at the water's edge. He chipped. He made 9 feet for par.
