Bernhard Langer, one of the world’s leading golfers throughout 1980s and 1990s, recently returned to Augusta National, an iconic golf course that he knows as well as anyone. In addition to winning two green jackets during his successful career, the German professional golfer recently became the oldest player to make the tournament cut at 63 years young.
The Rise of Bernhard Langer
Bernhard grew up in a little town in Germany about thirty miles from Munich. You could say it was a miracle that he was ever born. After already giving birth to two healthy boys, his mother was warned that she and her child would likely die if she ever got pregnant again. Despite this warning, she went ahead and gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Although both he and his mother survived, he was often unwell during his early childhood, with fever peaks and full-body cramps.
Luckily for the world of golf, his misfortune as a toddler came to an end at the age of eight when he convinced his brother to let him come to Augsburg Golf Club. He did not know it at the time but his first job as a caddie would be the beginning of a long and successful golf career.
His parents wanted him to study at a better high school than the one close to their home, but he decided to stay at the local school so he could continue playing at the nearby golf course. At an early age, he already knew he wanted to become a professional golfer. At the age of eight, he started caddying to earn some money, and by the age of 15, he started his first job as an assistant professional. He turned professional in 1972, and two years later, he won his first professional tournament, the 1974 German National Open Championship.
Professional Career & Ryder Cup Heartbreak
Langer is widely recognised for his Ryder Cup appearances. Unfortunately, European golf fans will likely remember Langer’s final putt at the 1991 Ryder Cup hosted in South Carolina when a crucial moment for the European team fell on his shoulders. Langer had an opportunity to capture a desperately needed half-point which would have resulted in an overall tie against the United States. This would have been enough for Europe to take the trophy back with them having been the last team to win it outright in 1987. Sadly for Europe and the German golfer, he missed the putt.
Langer was never one to give up. “I was pretty confident I was going to make that putt,” he reflects on his Ryder Cup disappointment. He had decided to hit it straight, and so he did. His conviction is what mattered for the future. The following week, he forced a play-off by sinking in a 15-foot putt on the last hole and ended up with the German Masters’ Cup in his hands that evening.
Despite the 1991 heartbreak, Langer had a positive influence on the European golf and helped revitalize European fortunes and status after many decades of American domination. He has won many events in Europe and the United States, including the 1985 and 1993 Masters tournament.
Age Is Just A Number
At the age of 63, Bernhard is not supposed to be doing what he is doing. Not only is he still able to compete at the highest level, but he is also beating records and winning championships on the Seniors Tour. Langer is one of only five golfers who has won professional championships on all six continents where golf is played.
“Even at this point in life, I know there are still things I can improve. Like being more accurate, thinking better and improving my short game”, emphasized Langer. He has never lost passion and motivation for playing golf and competing. “Whatever I do, I give it my best. If I cannot get motivated, I rather stay at home”, he highlights.
One must wonder what the secret is. How did Langer made it all happen and became a legend of the game? To start with, he knows what he wants. He is convinced he can do what he sets out to achieve by following a routine and being persistent. To him, age is just another factor to consider but it is not an insurmountable barrier.
Golf stats are fantastic and sometimes unbelievable. For example, in 1976, Langer played his first Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. That week he played with golf legend Gene Sarazen, who was born in 1902. Fast forward almost 50 years to November 2020 when Abel Gallegos, born in 2002, played his first major championship at the Masters against a field which included Bernhard Langer. This means that Langer has faced two competitors in major championships who were born a hundred years apart! Of course, not every golfer spends as long at the top of the game as Langer does, clearly this stat is a tribute to his incredible longevity more than anything else.
A Stark Contrast At This Years Masters
Langer is living proof that despite how it may seem at times, golf is not a sport which always comes down to speed and strength. It is a lot more about knowing yourself and your technique. Of course, Langer himself admits that he is playing a different sort of game to some of the younger guys. “I am probably 40, 50 yards behind some players, which gives them an advantage; but there are other ways of getting there”.
The distance gap was most noticeable at the 2020 Masters when Langer played in the same group as the current US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau (currently one of the longest hitters on tour). Despite the considerable differences in driving distance, Langer finished the tournament one stroke ahead of his younger opponent. The two contrasting styles illustrated another distinct characteristic of the game of golf; golfers with widely different approaches can arrive at nearly the same score provided each one relies on their own strengths and abilities.
The Secret To His Longevity
“I still love competing, I still love the game and those are major factors in being successful”, Langer says. At his age, he needs to be on top of his health to continue playing at an elite level. He needs to have the drive and discipline to put in the work. He has learned to focus on what he can do and figured out what is right for him.
Even though he would love to participate in more tournaments, he knows that playing more than two weeks in a row is not beneficial for his performance and game: “I get very impatient with myself, and I do not play as well”. Thus, rest and enjoying time with his family is a critical factor in his performance.
“Sticking to a regular workout routine will pay dividends”, he says. His routine always starts and finishes with stretching. There are no workouts or practice sessions without allocating time to working on his flexibility. It is vital for Langer’s fitness and longevity.
Practising is not just about how to swing a club; it is also necessary to stay fit and healthy to do it the way you want to. While his practice routine has changed throughout the years as a result of his age, he managed to adjust it in a way that will only benefit his game and keep improving.
“I can’t pound 500, 800 balls a day anymore,” he says. The amount does not matter; it is more about feeling good and understanding what he is trying to achieve. Hence, he knows that he is losing distance and strength, so he focuses on being more precise, making better decisions.
Apart from his fitness routine, other factors have influenced Langer’s longevity and successful career. There is a lot of discipline in his life as well as in his golf game. For instance, he sleeps his eight hours of sleep, gets in a daily work out and has a healthy diet.
Inspiring Golfers Of All Ages
Although his achievements are especially encouraging to senior golfers, it gives everyone else who plays this game hope, whether they do it professionally or just for fun.
Many people complain “I’m getting too old” or “too stiff” or whatever, but there are many ways you can improve your golf. Langer has a different point of view, “I say it almost every week. I still feel I can get better at this game. I think I’ve proven it to some extent.”
As a legend, he has plenty of fans. Every time he steps into a new tournament, the German golfer intends to motivate and encourage fans. I hope it gives other people hope, you know?” he says. “I’m trying to be a role model for the younger generation, and at the same time, give the older people some hope that they can still improve at age 50 or 60. It can be done.”
If you enjoyed this article, please sign up to our mailing list below. We have lots of exciting content in our pipeline. We have a series planned on using sports psychology to improve your game plus a new analysis of the best tips for adding distance to your drive.
If you have already signed up, please don’t forget to share this article via the social media links below. Your friends will thank you and so will we!