The German golf icon Bernhard Langer left the Masters in Augusta. But the fans gave the 67-year-old a fantastic farewell.
Seconds after Bernhard Langer failed his chance of extension due to a banal mistake, the audience rose and applauded Germany’s golf icon. The chairman of the Augusta Golf Club received him at the outcome of train 18, then long hand ran in hand with his wife Vikki Carol for the last time as a participant along the trellis of the fans who cheered him and celebrated him for his impressive performance on the legendary golf course in the US state of Georgia.
Langer didn’t know that he would miss the cut and the weekend because of a blow – but he suspected. “I played really well today and just had a terrible ending, that hit me. But I didn’t know if I was running on track 18 for the last time or if I’m still here tomorrow”Langer told “ESPN” in the US broadcaster before being officially on Friday evening (local time). In the end, the 67-year-old needed one blow too much and had to pack his things after rounds of 74 and 73 strokes.
Small mistakes with great effect
For a long time, it looks very good for the cut to the 15th of the player, the chances were good that Langer would be able to compete with the two decisive rounds. But the veteran and winner of 1985 and 1993 hit his ball into the water on the Par 5 with the third blow. In the end he needed seven blows on 15th hole. Langer also affected a failure in the final hole. At the decisive putt to the par, his ball ran wafer -thin past the hole. “So is golf. It can be the greatest game and sometimes very brutal”he said later.
The individual blow costs the cut
Langer stood on three after two days on three strokes, which cut made all players with a maximum of two strokes over Par – including Stephan Jäger. The tournament ended two days earlier for a long time when he had hoped – the Swabian who had been living in the USA for a long time was still happy.
“The last two days were special for me, even when I ran to the first discount yesterday, I got standing ovation and people really applauded me”he said: “I almost came about the tears and I almost started crying. Then I said to myself, tear you together, you still have some golf to play here.”
Masters party after 40 years
Langer had announced in advance to compete for the last time at the Major tournament on Magnolia Lane. With his first Masters triumph 40 years ago, he suddenly moved Golf in Germany. In 1993 he again secured the legendary green jacket for the winner. In the future, Langer only wants to concentrate on the tournaments of the US senior tour.
“Many emotions went through my head during the past two days when I walked the Faiways Langen”said Langer: “I saw my wife, my four children, two of my grandchildren were here and supported me, friends from Germany, family from Germany. Even friends from all over the world ran a few lanes with me. That meant a lot.”
Mcilroy with the best round on Friday
While it is over for Langer now, the younger generation is all about everything on Saturday and Sunday. Justin Rose from England is still in the lead before the weekend. After his strong 65 round at the start, he added a 71 round on Friday. With eight strokes under par, he has a lead on Bryson Dechameau from the USA. Rory McIlroy played the best round of the day and, thanks to the only 66 strokes on the second day, improved to the shared third place. Like Corey Conners, he is under par at six and has two strokes behind Rose.