Bernhard Langer And Son Win PNC Championship. Woods Finishes Hopeful For Next Year

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods was an 18-year-old high school senior who made his first professional cut in a European Tour event in Thailand. It was also his first time playing with Bernhard Langer.

The ageless Langer is still going strong after thirty years.

Langer closed up a remarkable, record-setting year by teaming up with his son, Jason, to shoot a 13-under 59 in 30 mph wind to win by two shots against David Duval and his son.

Langer tied Raymond Floyd’s PNC Championship record with his fifth title—three with Jason and two with older son Stefan.

Woods and his 14-year-old son Charlie shot 61 in the scramble style to tie for fifth place on a day that included one shot so daring that Woods couldn’t help but giggle. On the ninth hole at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, he missed the green to the left, and the son of the 15-time major champion chipped it in for birdie.

It wasn’t just the chip-in but also the sideways walk, raised finger point, fist pump, and yell. Woods couldn’t help but smile as he witnessed all of this, especially when he looked across to Steve Stricker.

Bernhard Langer And Son Win PNC Championship

“To see his reaction … it happened right in front of me,” he added. “He became excited, and I noticed Stricks shaking his head. It was fantastic.”

The PNC Championship, which pairs major champions with family members, is built around such experiences. Brady Duval, a Coastal Carolina player, shot a 6-iron to 2 feet on the final hole for eagle to secure second place, and his father, a former world No. 1, couldn’t be happier.

But the day — and, in fact, the year — belonged to Langer, a 66-year-old German and two-time Masters champion who never seems to slow down. Langer’s highlight moment this year was winning twice on the PGA Tour Champions to extend his career total to 46, shattering Hale Irwin’s senior record that was supposed to be out of reach.

The 46th victory came at the US Senior Open.

Langer and his son, who works in investment banking in New York, began three shots behind Matt Kuchar and son but played so well that they took the lead after four holes and never looked back. They broke par in the par-3 eighth hole and had 10 birdies in 11 holes.

Bernhard Langer And Son Win PNC Championship

Jason’s job only lets him play less than he would like, but he traveled to Florida early for some practice, and whatever time he spent on the greens paid off. He hardly ever missed.

“Watching him put, it was unbelievable,” Langer remarked. “Every time, the ball started on line. If it didn’t hit, it was because I misread the green. Otherwise, he would have made them all.”

Langer and Floyd’s PNC titles are distinguished by their longevity. Langer appears to be like this in every manner. He won his first PNC Championship in 2005, and he was wearing the Willie Park Trophy, a red leather champion’s belt, again 18 years later.

Floyd was the winner of five of the first seven PNC Championships.

Woods is well aware of the German’s longevity. He remembers the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand when he was grouped with Langer, the reigning Masters champion.

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen anyone work in meters.” “That was unusual for me,” Woods remarked.

“To see what he’s done since then, and what he does each and every year and what he’s battled with on the greens, the different styles he keeps fighting through, it just goes to show the personality, the determination that he has and the type of person he is to be able to stick through everything,” the golfer said.

Langer recalls a rail-thin adolescent with exceptional speed, power, and “a hunger for the game.” And you just knew he’d go above and beyond most, and he has.”

Woods concluded the year with two tournaments — 72 holes in the Bahamas, 36 holes in the PNC Championship, and walked all but one round in Orlando — with no pain in his ankle, but only in other portions of his injured body.

But there was still hope for 2024, and he is still determined to play once a month.

“I’ll be able to walk and play,” he predicted. “We’ve been working out hard and recovering. We’ve been training every day, which has been fantastic. It’s been great to get rid of some rust and some of my doubts because, to be honest, I haven’t hit a shot that counted in a long time.

“Having to post a score and hit shots on the right number, and hit shots with consequence, it’s been nice.”

When Langer’s son-in-law, who was caddying, asked about the location of the forward tee that 84-year-old Lee Trevino and Annika Sorenstam’s 12-year-old son Will McGee were using, they were walking up the 18th fairway.

Langer’s son-in-law speculated that he would be up on those forward tees one year “with one of the grandkids, chasing it.” This made Langer happy.

“We’ll see,” he replied.

SOURCE – (AP)