Langer's resilient, relentless game dominating the Tour
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Bernhard Langer would not go into an express checkout line at the local grocer with more than 10 items.
He would not forget to leave a tip.
He does not play the Lottery every week.
"I like harmony in my life," he said. "I don't like strife or conflict."
Langer has little reason to be conflicted by his golf game. In an era when it's supposed to be difficult to dominate on the Champions Tour, he has done just that. Langer has won the Jack Nicklaus Player of the Award each of the last three seasons, the only time that's been done on this tour since the Award was started in 1990.
The Hall of Famer from Germany has won 12 times during the last three years, led the money list each year and has already earned more than $7.2 million on the Champions Tour. One of those victories came a year ago this week, when he holed a bunker shot from a plugged lie on the first playoff hole for an eagle to win his hometown Allianz Championship at Broken Sound.
More harmony.
"I think I have exceeded my own expectations," Langer said Thursday. "I was trying to be one of the premier dominating players. To be three-time Player of the Year and lead the money list all three years wasn't something I was sure I could do. There's no guarantees in golf, as we know."
Langer does know. Twice the yips almost drove him out of the game. But now, Champions Tour newcomers like Mark Calcavecchia of Tequesta say putting may be the strength of his resilient game.
"I don't think I've ever seen a guy make almost every putt inside 10 feet; he's about automatic," Calcavecchia said. "I played with him the first two rounds at Sahalee last year (in the U.S. Senior Open) and I knew it was over when he shot 69-68. I think if they held the U.S. Open at Sahalee and played those tees, Langer would have won with that score of 8 under."
How has Langer done it? It's not like the 5-foot-9, 160-pounder can overpower a course. So he just hit it the straightest -- he led the Tour by hitting 76 percent of his greens last year -- and he was sixth in putting.
Hitting the most greens and taking among the fewest putts is usually a good combination. It worked for him well to win a pair of Masters. But his peers say it's beyond his skills.
"He is relentless," said Jay Haas, the two-time Player of the Year who Langer displaced. "He never gives a shot away. He's so disciplined."
Langer can't point to one aspect of his game or his life to explain his recent dominance. Nor will he ever be able to.
"It's not one element," he said. "It's the whole mosaic. You see the pictures, but there's a lot of little pieces to make it happen."
One of those is Langer's health. He has had some lower-back and neck problems, but he has the same figure as when he first slipped on a green jacket when he won his first Masters in 1985.
"He can wear the same pants he wore 25 years ago," Haas said.
His waist size isn't the only constant in Langer's life.
"I've had the same coach for 35 years, the same manager for 35 years, the same wife for 27 years," Langer said. "I haven't had marital problems or divorce problems like some guys. I have a support group that's very important to my success."
That support group nearly stormed Broken Sound's 18th green last year when Langer holed his bunker shot to deny John Cook, who looked poised to win after driving the par-5 in two shots. Langer, who did a nice Bob Tway impersonation afterward, ranked it as his third greatest highlight, behind the two Masters.
"The moment was extremely special for many reasons," Langer said. "It was a tense situation. John Cook was in the driver's seat after hitting the green, and I was plugged in the bunker; it didn't look good. Plus, I was playing in front of many family and friends. It's pretty special for that."
Langer was asked about his bunker celebration -- the moment was captured by photographers and is on all of Allianz's promotions this year -- and he seemed surprised people still believe the German is a bit stoic or mechanical.
"I show a lot of emotion, but people don't see it," he said. "You have to look a little closer at times."
Craig Dolch is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.
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