Langer keeping senior golfers in running for a Masters win

No one is questioning Bernhard Langer’s prediction two years ago that a player over 50 was going to win a major championship, maybe even the Masters Tournament.

The oldest winner of a major is Julius Boros, who was 48 when he won the 1968 PGA Championship.

Jack Nicklaus, of course, is the oldest Masters winner at 46.

At the time he made his comment, Langer said it would happen “sooner or later.”

It might be sooner.

Langer, the 57-year-old two-time Masters champion (1985, 1993), is doing his part to keep senior golfers’ hopes alive. He was one of six players at least 50 to make the cut in the 2014 Masters – and one of two to crack the top 10.

Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, who was 50 at the time, finished fourth and Langer tied for eighth.

Both proved a senior can shoot a blistering round at the 7,435-yard course. Jimenez had the tournament’s low round – a 6-under-par 66 in the third round that tied the lowest by a senior in tournament history – and Langer had a final-round 69.

“We can compete at the highest level and even on a very, very long golf course like this one,” Langer said.

Ben Hogan in 1967 and Fred Couples in 2010 shot 66 as seniors. Jimenez’s fourth-place finish was the second highest by a fiftysomething in tournament history. Sam Snead holds that record with a tie for third in 1963 at nearly 51.

Langer is the second-oldest player to finish in the top 10, behind Nicklaus, who tied for sixth in 1998 at age 58.

“If you are 50 doesn’t mean that you cannot play well. I’m still moving. I’m still flexible … the main thing is I’m doing what I like to do in my life and I’m enjoying it completely,” Jimenez said.

Ben Crenshaw became a Jimenez fan after being paired with him in the first two rounds last year.

“Miguel’s one fascinating player,” Crenshaw said. “He hits the ball right in the middle of the club almost every time and he’s a good thinker.”

Langer and Jimenez aren’t the only seniors that could unseat Nicklaus as the oldest Masters champion. Couples, 55 and winner in 1992, tied for 20th last year and 2000 Masters champion Vijay Singh, 52, tied for 37th place.

“Why not?” Jimenez said when asked whether a senior could win the Masters. “To win a tournament you need to hit the ball well, putt good and go play. If you are able and ready to play, you got a chance.”

Langer credits the Champions Tour and this generation of 50-and-overs for the talk of a senior winning a major.

“I think the guys stay in better shape and they know that there’s a great tour with the Champions Tour waiting for them,” Langer said. “In their late 40s they don’t kind of quit and say I’m kind of done. They’re actually maybe working harder at it knowing they’re going to have five or 10 years, maybe more, on the Champions Tour.”

Champions Tour regular Jay Haas believes a senior could win the Masters.

“It would have to be a magical week for one of those guys, but yes, it would not be a huge surprise to me,” said Haas, who has won 17 times on the Champions Tour. “Look at Tom Watson at 59 almost won the British Open (in 2009). It’s hard to discount Fred (Couples). As much as he loves that place (Augusta National) and if he gets that putter going a little bit. … He seemingly doesn’t get nervous. If he’s on mentally, if he’s ready to play. He’s still extremely capable.”

Champions Tour golfer Nick Price, co-holder of the Masters 18-hole scoring record of 63 and a three-time major champion on the PGA Tour, isn’t quite as sure as Haas. He cites the length of the course, even though Langer and Jimenez turned in low rounds despite the yardage last year, as a big hurdle.

“Augusta is a tough nut, though,” Price said. “At Augusta, you’ve got to hit the ball … it’s become a big man’s, a big hitter’s golf course. I think there is a prerequisite there as to how far you hit the ball.”

Price points out that despite Jimenez finishing fourth last year, he was still four shots behind winner Bubba Watson. And Langer was eight behind with his tie for eighth place.

“Getting into the top 10 and then being in contention to win are two different things,” Price said. “But if you just get everything right for just one week, it can be done. There’s no doubt.”

If a senior makes it to the second nine of the final round in contention, Price said they would be fighting more than the course.

“Nerves would be the biggest challenge,” Price said. “As you get a little older, your nerves just fray a little bit. They’re just not quite where they were. I know that from my experience. I get sort of apprehensive about things whereas I never worried before. I guess you’ve seen too much water under the bridge.”

Haas and Price believe Langer would be the most likely senior to win the Masters, even at age 57.

Langer is tied for fifth place for most Champions Tour wins at 23 – including five in 2014 – and is seven wins away from being solo second on the list.

In 2014, Langer won the tour’s season-ending points race and led in scoring average, money, greens in regulation, birdie average and ball striking.

“The way he played last year, if you look at his scoring average (68.03). …” said Price, shaking his head. “Granted, our courses may be a little bit easier and have less rough than on (the PGA) Tour, but I’m telling you, he played phenomenally well. He’s maybe in the top 60 or 70 in the world. Then he goes to Augusta and finishes in the top 10.”

In last year’s Senior British Open, Langer shot 18-under and won by 13 shots.

“It would have been hard to say he wouldn’t have won that tournament if there had been 30 PGA Tour players in the field,” Haas said.

“Langer probably is better the last couple of years (than in his prime),” Haas said. “He’s like Hale Irwin; he got better with age.”

And something happens to Langer when he steps on the first tee at Augusta National.

“Horses for courses,” Price said. “Langer just loves Augusta and he’s figured out a way how he’s going to play it.”

That’s because of Langer’s many tournament rounds around the course – 108 of them.

“Experience matters, yeah,” Langer said.