AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bernhard Langer stated years in the past, he requested Augusta Nationwide officers if there was an age restrict for previous champions to obtain an exemption to return to play on the Masters.
“You may know when it is time,” he was advised.
On Monday, Langer, 67 and a two-time winner of the inexperienced jacket in 1985 and 1993, stated it is obvious that it is time. His forty first Masters look might be his final.
“It’s extremely emotional,” Langer stated. “After 4 a long time, it’ll be bittersweet. I knew it was time to name it quits as a participant.”
Langer has dominated the Champions Tour with a file 47 profession wins, together with a minimum of one in every of the previous 18 years. However he stated throughout his apply spherical Sunday that he realized once more he is not outfitted to compete at Augusta Nationwide anymore at 7,510 yards.
“The course is simply getting too lengthy and I am getting shorter and shorter,” he stated. “I knew I wasn’t going to be in competition anymore. I most likely ought to have stop a number of years in the past as a result of the place I am driving it, I typically cannot see the flag. There’s par-4s after I’m hitting 3-wood into the inexperienced when different guys are hitting 8-irons, 9-irons, 7-irons. This course isn’t constructed to be hitting these type of golf equipment.”
Langer had deliberate for final 12 months to be his final, however then injured his Achilles whereas enjoying pickleball in February 2024, and needed to skip the match to rehab. He stated returning to Augusta was a giant a part of his rehab motivation, however simply getting again to having the ability merely stand or stroll was tough. The well-known hills of Augusta now pose a unique take a look at than in years previous.
“I have been enjoying aggressive golf, I believe, since Might or so final 12 months … however I have been driving a golf cart more often than not,” Langer stated. “I walked 18 holes yesterday [in a practice round], and I used to be completely exhausted and carried out. I used to be glad I may do it, however strolling 5 or 6 days in a row on this terrain, it’ll be actually arduous.”
Langer walked into the interview room and joked that it had been some time since he’d been there. He watched a video of highlights of his profession whereas holding again his emotion, saying afterward that coming from Anhausen, Germany, a village of 500 individuals thus far has been an “unbelievable journey.”
He joked about his fashionable all-red outfit he wore in his first win in 1985, saying he all the time tells Tiger Woods, “I used to be the one carrying a pink shirt first; you got here later.” He recalled his spouse greeting him eight years later after his second championship, however this time with three youngsters.
“Normally I am fairly good compartmentalizing, so after I’m contained in the ropes, my thoughts switches to being a competitor, play golf and handle the duty in entrance of me,” he stated. “However I would get a bit emotional wanting round and the spectators, seeing my household, my youngsters, my grandkids, my brother and different associates which might be going to be supporting me this week.”
