Only one word can describe what Bernhard Langer did on Sunday at the Phoenix Country Club:
Wow.
The 67-year-old Langer, who ruptured his Achilles in February, drained a 40-footer for birdie on the 18th hole to eclipse Steven Alker and Richard Green by a stroke at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. He closed it in style, capturing his 47th career victory on the PGA Tour Champions. It is also the 18th straight season Langer won on the senior circuit.
“Yeah, incredible, just incredible. He just defies anything; he’s an absolutely incredible golfer,” said Ernie Els of Langer after.
“The golf course is playing very well. It’s very suited to his game. It’s not playing overly long, and you have to hit it in the fairway to get to the greens. And he’s putting great it seems like. I just saw some highlights in there, he’s making long putts. Just a wonderful player and a wonderful asset to our game.”
For the third straight day, Langer shot his age. He carded a 5-under 66 on Sunday, but it did not come easy. He carded a preposterous six birdies on the front to go out with a 6-under 30, and a Langer victory looked all but assured. But then he stumbled on the back-nine, making three bogies, with none more consequential than his dropped shot on the par-4 17th. Langer rifled his second shot off of a tree and was lucky to escape with only a bogey. Meanwhile, Alker, his playing partner who went on to win the season-long Charles Schwab Cup, made a birdie, thus tying Langer at 17-under with one hole to play.
And then, Langer did the improbable on the 18th, capping off an injury-plagued season that had plenty of ups and downs.
“I’m speechless. Was that exciting or what? To start ahead was just incredible, I was totally in the zone,” Langer said.
“Played good and then got a little unraveled there on the back nine, and Steven Alker got going. I didn’t see any of Richard Green’s. Obviously, he must have played fantastic on the back nine, too. Terry, my caddie, after we hit the wedge [on 18], says, ‘Well, it’s one more putt.’”
Langer began the day with a one-shot lead at a tournament that he did not even think he would even qualify for earlier this summer. Only the top 36 players in the Charles Schwab Cup standings make it to Phoneix for the finale, and Langer, despite his injury, made it with ease. He ultimately finished seventh in the final standings.
“It’s unbelievable, I can’t describe it,” Langer added.
“To win this big tournament after what I’ve been through and to make it 17, maybe 18 years in a row out here because I won when I only played five tournaments, it’s quite amazing. I’m very grateful, very blessed. Want to thank the Lord for all that he’s done for me.”
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.