Bernhard Langer's illustrious half-century career in European professional golf has come to a close. Langer missed the cut at the BMW International Open in Munich on Friday, shooting a one-over 73 following an opening-round 71. The 66-year-old German began his journey in what is now the DP World Tour back in 1974, and he amassed 42 victories, second only to the late Seve Ballesteros of Spain.
Reflecting on his career, Langer expressed gratitude for the global experiences golf afforded him. "I was able to live that dream for 50 years," he said. "I have wonderful memories from all over the world, not just in Europe but Asia, Australia, Japan, America, South Africa. I was able to travel the world and meet with kings and queens. I played golf with all sorts of people, whether they were successful businessmen or just the average butcher or bricklayer or whatever, it was fun, it was great."
Although Langer's time on the DP World Tour has ended, he continues to compete on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. He has claimed 12 senior major titles, including the 2023 US Senior Open. Despite an Achilles tendon injury that required surgery and prevented him from making his final Masters appearance last April, Langer's career remains active with a remarkable total of 123 career titles, including victories at the 1985 and 1993 Masters.
Langer's impact on golf extends beyond his tournament wins. He holds a 21-15-6 Ryder Cup record and captained Europe to victory in 2004. Fellow golfer Thomas Bjorn paid tribute to Langer, saying, "You will never meet a truer gentleman in the game than Bernhard Langer. He is an honor to be around and a pleasure to be around. ... I played a lot of tournament golf with him, but I also played a lot of practice golf with him, and he always made me feel welcome into his world."
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