Bernhard Langer, 65, wins US Senior Open, breaking champions’ win record

Bernhard Langer won the US Senior Open at SentryWorld on Sunday, breaking the PGA Tour Champions victory record.

Pushing his record as the oldest winner on the 50-and-over tour to 65 years, 10 months, 5 days, the German star broke a tie with Hale Irwin for the #46 win.

“I have my mom who will be 100 on August 4, so I think I have good genes,” Langer said. “Hopefully I’ll be there for a few more years.”

Seven strokes ahead of the back nine, Langer bogeyed the last three holes for 1-under 70 and a two-stroke victory over home state favorite Steve Stricker on the tree-lined course with thick rough.

“Never thought it would happen at a US Senior Open, but I’m very happy that the record of 46 wins was achieved this week,” said Langer. “It’s certainly one of the biggest tournaments we’ve ever competed in, and to beat this field, where everyone was here, especially Stricker and [Jerry] Kelly on their own turf, is a very special feeling.”

Langer finished 7-under 277, with just eight players breaking par this week. He shattered Allen Doyle’s 2006 tournament age record at Prairie Dunes at 57 years, 11 months, and 14 days.

“There are a lot more aches and pains than there were 10 years ago,” Langer said. “I still enjoy the game. If I play like I did this week, I’ll keep playing. There have been a few weeks where I’ve thought, ‘What were you doing here? Go home and play with the grandkids.’ “‘

The two-time Masters champion has a record 13 wins since turning 60 and is in the top five of the oldest winners list. He has multiple wins in 11 consecutive seasons and 14 overall.

Stricker – from Madison, 100 miles south – made birdie on three of the last five holes for a 69.

“It gives hope to all of us, I think, who are still playing here, that we can continue to play as well as he has been playing for so long,” Stricker said of Langer. “It’s really impressive. I knew he wouldn’t back down today.”

Stricker won the first two senior majors of the year and won his hometown Madison event three weeks ago for his fourth championship win of the season.

“It seemed like I had a bad nine holes there every day, and it ended up costing me the tournament,” said Stricker.

Kelly, also from Madison, was third at 4 under on a 71.

Two shots ahead of Kelly going into the round, Langer birdied the first two holes for the second day in a row.

Langer added a birdie on No. 5, then rounded off a bogey on No. 6 with a birdie on No. 7. He opened the back nine with a birdie on the 10th, parred the next five and closed with the three consecutive bogeys.

“It wasn’t easy,” said Langer, who earned a spot next year in the US Open at No. 2 Pinehurst. “My age was probably coming towards the end.”

Brett Quigley (66) and Rob Labritz (69) tied for fourth at 2 under. Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen (71), Steven Alker (65) and Dicky Pride (69) were 1 under.

“The rough was tough and no matter how many fairways I missed, I think I did well,” said Goosen. “I was like a cow eating cabbage all the time.”

Langer, paired with Goosen the first two rounds, sacrificed distance for accuracy to stay out of trouble.

“I think that’s one of the reasons I’ve done so well. I haven’t hit it hard very often,” Langer said. “I’ve taken a lot of 3-woods off the tees at times, but then I had to hit 3-woods into the green or a really long club. But I’d rather do that than hit the driver and get him out of the rough.”