Bernhard Langer ties record with fifth PNC Championship title

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods was an 18-year-old high school student when he took his first step into a professional event at a European Tour event in Thailand. It was also the first time he played with Bernhard Langer.

Thirty years later, the timeless Langer is still going strong.

Langer capped his memorable, record-breaking year when he teamed with his son Jason to produce a 13-under 59 in 30 mph wind for a 2-shot victory over David Duval and his son.

Langer tied the PNC championship record with his fifth title – three with Jason, two with his oldest son Stefan – held by Raymond Floyd.

Woods and his son Charlie, 14, shot 61 in the scrimmage format to tie for fifth, a day that included a shot so audacious Woods could only laugh. He missed the green on the ninth hole at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club well left, and the son of the 15-time major champion chipped in for birdie.

It wasn't just the chip-in, it was the stare, the sideways walk, the raised finger and the fist pump. Woods was watching all this and couldn't smile more, especially when he looked at Steve Stricker.

“To see his reaction…it happened right in front of me,” Woods said. “He was excited and I looked at Stricks and he was shaking his head. It was awesome.”

The PNC Championship, which features major champions with family members, is all about moments like that. Brady Duval, who plays at Coastal Carolina, hit a 6-iron to 2 feet on the final hole for eagle to lock in second place, and his father, a former world No. 1, couldn't have been more proud.

But the day – indeed, the year – belonged to Langer, a 66-year-old German and two-time Masters champion who never seems to stop. The highlight for Langer this year was winning twice on the PGA Tour Champions, bringing his win total to 46, breaking Hale Irwin's senior record once thought to be out of reach.

The 46th victory was no less than that of the US Senior Open.

Langer and his son, who works at an investment bank in New York, started 3 shots behind Matt Kuchar and his son and played so well that they had the advantage after four holes and never slowed down. They didn't reach par until the par-3 eighth and had 10 birdies over 11 holes.

Jason's job doesn't allow him to play as much, but he arrived in Florida early to practice a little, and the time he spent on the greens paid off. He barely missed.

“Watching him putt, it was amazing,” Langer said. “The ball went over the line every time. If it missed, it was because I misread the green. Otherwise, he probably would have hit them all.”

The difference between Langer and Floyd and their PNC titles is longevity. Everything seems to be like this with Langer. He won his first PNC championship in 2005, and 18 years later he again wore the Willie Park Trophy, a red leather championship belt.

Floyd won five of the first seven PNC championships.

Woods knows all about Langer's longevity. He remembers the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand, where he played in his mother's native country and was in a group with Langer, the reigning Masters champion.

“It's the first time I've seen someone work in yards. It was different for me,” Woods said.

“Seeing what he's done since then, and what he does every year and what he's fought against on the greens, the different styles he continues to fight with, it just shows his personality, his determination and his type. he is a person who can get through anything,” he said.

Langer remembers Woods as a thin teenager with extraordinary speed, power and “hunger for the game.” [win] more than most, and he certainly did.

Woods finished his year with two tournaments — 72 holes in the Bahamas, 36 holes in the PNC Championship, walking all but one round in Orlando — with no ankle pain, just other parts of his body ravaged by injuries.

But there was hope for 2024, and he remains committed to trying to play once a month.

“I’ll be able to walk and play,” he said. “We worked hard, we were able to recover. We practiced every day, which is great. It's been nice to knock off a lot of the rust and some of the doubts that I had because, frankly, it's been a long time that I hadn't made a shot that counted.

“Having to score and hit shots on the right number, and making shots with consequences, it’s been fun.”

Langer was walking the 18th fairway when his son-in-law, who was caddying, asked for the location of the front tee used for Lee Trevino, 84, and Will McGee, Annika Sorenstam's 12-year-old son.

His son-in-law raised the idea that Langer could be on those tees before a year “with one of his grandchildren, chasing him.” This made Langer smile.

“We’ll see,” he said.