Bernhard Langer shot lower than his age to snatch victory at the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship and extend his record of winning a title every year on the PGA Tour Champions’ circuit to 18 years.
The 67-year-old holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole to card a five-under-par 66 and seal a one-stroke victory on 18 under over defending champion Steven Alker and Richard Green.
It is the 47th title Langer has won on the over-50s circuit and the first since tearing his Achilles tendon in early 2024.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Langer, who also had rounds of 69, 64 and 67 at the Phoenix Country Club in Arizona.
“To win this big tournament after what I’ve been through and to make 18 years in a row out here, it’s quite amazing. I’m very grateful, very blessed.”
Langer, a two-time Masters winner, had a five-shot lead heading into the back nine but back-to-back bogeys on the 10th and 11th saw his lead diminish.
A further bogey on the 17th, coupled with Alker making a birdie, saw the pair head down the 18th level.
Langer drove into the trees on the par-five closing hole but made a brilliant birdie to beat his age for a 22nd time and secure the win, as Alker could only make par.
A joint second finish for 53-year-old Alker was enough to pass Ernie Els and capture the season-long Charles Schwab Cup points race.
“It would have been nice to win it all, the whole lot, but I’ve got the Schwab Cup and that’s important to me,” said Alker.