PGA Tour Champions: Langer's 63 vaults defending champ into TimberTech contention
BOCA RATON — His PGA Tour Champions brethren learned this a long time ago: Never count Bernhard Langer out of a tournament, especially in his hometown event.
Langer’s chances of defending his title in the TimberTech Championship and winning the tournament for a record fourth time seemed remote Friday after he made only two birdies in windy conditions and managed an even-par 71 to leave him four strokes behind the leaders.
Normally, an even-par round eliminates a player from winning the PGA Tour Champions’ 54-hole events. But Langer isn’t a normal player.
“I didn’t shoot myself out of the tournament,” Langer said Friday.
Saturday, Langer shot up the leaderboard with a sparkling 8-under 63 — low round of the day — on the Old Course at Broken Sound Club. Langer is tied with former major champion David Toms (65), one shot behind three-time major champion Padraig Harrington (66), who birdied the 17th hole to move to 9-under 133.
“I played really good and made some putts. It wasn’t crazy, but I made far more putts than I had for a while so that was fun,” said the 66-year-old Langer, who shot his age in competition for the 12th time. “Thank goodness the wind wasn’t blowing like (Friday). That was pretty brutal. It was much more manageable today.”
Langer’s turnaround was similar to last year’s TimberTech Championship, which was held at Royal Palm Yacht & Golf Club while the Old Course was being renovated. Last year, he opened 70-63 and won by six shots after a 66; this time it was 71-63.
“I don’t have a memory like that,” Langer said, smiling.
Harrington has a win and two playoff losses this season to rank ninth in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. He birdied three of his first six holes, made nine consecutive pars and added a couple of late birdies to overtake Langer.
“I played really well early in the round, then kind of hit the wall in the middle of the round and felt like I was leaving a lot out there,” Harrington said. “But making birdie at 16 and 17 makes me feel like I got the most out of the round. You have to stay patient on this course, and I was able to do that.”
Toms birdied two of his last three holes to tie Langer for second place. Hall of Famer Ernie Els (66), of Jupiter, and first-round co-leader Shane Bertsch (68) are tied for fourth at 7-under 135.
Langer charged out of the gate Saturday with birdies on the first two holes, including a nifty escape from the trees at No. 2 with a low 6-iron to 15 feet. After a birdie at the par-5 sixth, Langer got red-hot on the back nine, making birdies at 10, 11, 13, 14 and 16.
He finally missed his first green of the round at the par-4 17th but made a 10-footer to save par. He parred the 18th hole to close with a 5-under 30.
“A lot of fairways, a lot of greens, gave myself some good looks,” Langer said. “Coming home with 30 feels really good.”
Els didn’t miss a green and birdied the last two holes to move into contention. For the second consecutive day, Bertsch let a late lead get away with struggles on the last three holes (he has played them a combined 5-over).
Langer made history this summer when he won the U.S. Senior Open to earn his 46th career PGA Tour Champions title and surpass Hale Irwin. As amazing as an achievement as that was, Langer insists he’s not finished winning.
“Once I won No. 46, I thought, ‘Well, let's shoot for the moon, let's go for 50,’” Langer said. “I know that's a huge goal way out there, but who knows? I’m going to give it a few more years and see what happens.”
Said Harrington: “Bernhard is obviously a dangerous man when he’s near the lead.”
Even though Harrington has the lead, Els — and many others — think they know who’s the player to beat: Bernhard Langer.
“What is he, 66?” Els said. “He’s brilliant. Bernhard’s so tough on any tournament, but especially seems like he’s won here more than almost any other tournament.”
Actually, Langer has won the Naples-based Chubb Classic five times. On Sunday, he tries for victory No. 4 at the TimberTech Championship.
“It’s not many times that you win a tournament more than three times,” Langer said. “Florida has been very good to me. I guess it helps to live here.”
And have a game that travels anywhere.
TimberTech Championship
PGA Tour Champions
The Old Course, Broken Sound, Boca Raton
TV: Final round, Sunday, noon GOLF
Defending champ: Bernhard Langer
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: PGA Tour Champions TimberTech Championship Langer Harrington
