Bernhard Langer Getting Better with Age at the Senior Open

Post by Golf Writer Kieran Clark at Carnoustie

Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer returns to the site of his first senior major victory this week at Carnoustie, for the Senior Open Championship. The 58-year-old, who successfully battled then American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin for the title in 2010, is back on the Angus coastline in Scotland and looking to maintain a remarkable longevity in the game that has shown no sign of waning. In fact, you could argue that he is still getting better with age. That’s certainly his goal.

“I think we can (improve), I truly believe that. Gary Player talks about certain things and is convinced and I’m convinced you can become a better golfer as you mature, because I’ve had more years to work on my technique; I can still become a better ball-striker,” said the German during his pre-tournament press conference. “I may lose some distance. I may lose some strength and flexibility, but I might have a better understanding of my own swing and what works and what doesn’t.”

It’s hard to disagree, with results this season on the Champions Tour backing that assessment up. Winning two over-50 majors – the Tradition and Senior Players – as well as the Chubb Classic. He hasn’t finished outside the top-13 this year on the US-based circuit, while he was only two shots off the lead after 54-holes at Augusta. Most players have a short window of success after reaching the half century and breaking onto fresh pastures, but the impeccable former world number one is out to set even more benchmarks and to extend his period at the top.

Five-time Open champion Tom Watson knows a thing or two about that, having come agonisingly close to securing a sixth Claret Jug at the age of 59, and the legendary American is not surprised to see Langer continue to dominate at this level. “Not at all. Bernhard keeps himself in great shape. How old is Bernhard now? 58? He's just a youngster, come on. He's just a youngster.”

All joking aside, the respect fellow players have for the tournament favourite is evident. Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik, who claimed his maiden victory as a senior earlier this year, was effusive when offering umpromted praise.

“Langer, he's probably playing the best golf of his career I would say almost. He is more determined, more motivated, practices harder than he's ever done,” said the 51-year-old. “I've never seen, actually, of all athletes I've ever met, having the career that Bernhard had, to be that motivated still to be the first guy in the fitness trailer every morning at 6:00 and the last guy to leave it at 6:00 at night every day, practice rounds, practice, practice, practice, that's pretty amazing. It's actually very, very, how should I say, impressive. But Bernhard is Bernhard. That's what he's always done.”

That said, even the most assiduous of professionals has confessed to having toned down just a little bit of his intensity in recent times. “I've learned to pace myself. In the young days, you just played and played and played whatever tournament there was, you just entered and played. And one time I played 11 in a row. If I do that now, you can find me in the loony place,” he quipped.

“Two or three is pretty much the most (events he plays consecutively). I've learned what's good for me. You've got to listen to yourself and your body, and I don't like going more than two, really. Every once in a while I go three if I absolutely have to, and I take breaks, and I do things to recuperate and give myself rest.

“I've put the clubs away for a week or four or five days, even in the middle of the season, just (to) do other stuff. And I think that's actually good for me.”

It certainly hasn’t done him any harm, as his remarkable performance in this event two years ago at Royal Porthcawl being the most obvious example. On the burnt and running Welsh links, the nine-time Ryder Cup player pulled away from the field over the four rounds to complete a 13-shot victory, which surely ranks among his finest individual achievements.

“That was incredible. It was astonishing,” he reflected. “It's never easy to separate yourself from the field. You know, we saw what happened last week (at the Open), the two guys, it's easier for two guys because they are playing together and it's almost becoming match play.

“But to separate yourself, one person, it's sometimes harder. Yeah, things just went for me. I played great golf. I got some good breaks. Made some good putts. Just as the week progressed, I got further and further away from second and third.”

Citing his driving as being an obvious weakness in his days on the regular tour, which likely prevented him from securing a U.S. Open, as well as putting woes that have flared up at times, the 42-time European Tour winner assessed his game in the present compared to the success he had in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

“I think in the old days, my iron game was probably my strength, distance control, iron game. I think my driving has become a lot better. Greens in regulation has become very good. The last few years when you look at the stats, I hit more fairways, I hit a lot of greens. I've been in greens in regulation, either top two or top two or three (on the rankings).”

We can expect him to be high in those statistical categories once again this week, not to mention the leaderboard itself. Bernhard Langer is a golfing phenomenon with the admiration of his peers behind him. And perhaps the best may yet be to come as he continues to shield his age from the golf ball.