Bernhard Langer, the iconic German golfer turned American hero, finished his record-setting Masters career on Friday. He ended up with a score one stroke under the cut line. At 67 years old, Langer issued a provocative challenge. When he made this announcement, it would be his last time appearance at the invitational, in what was an incredible 41st start at the Masters. As he walked off the 18th green, he received a heartfelt standing ovation from patrons gathered to honor his remarkable journey.
Langer opened with an even-par 72, showing he still has the experience and skill to contend here. Yet, as he started the second round, he was two-over par through 15 holes. He faced struggles on the 18th green. His tee shot sailed through a 45-degree dogleg left into the trees on the right, adding a second indomitable hurdle to clear. His second shot to the green left him with a difficult 12-foot chip. Unfortunately, he three-putted after missing an excruciating four-footer for par.
Despite these setbacks, Langer’s performance was noteworthy. As a result, he became just the second golfer 65 or older to finish a round at the Masters under par. His problems would persist in the second round, where he signed for a round of seven over par.
Langer, who was emotional making his final exit on the tournament, reflected on that. “I almost welled up and burst out crying at that moment,” he confessed, “but I was like, ‘Nah, come on, get it together. You’ve got some golf to play.’ Everywhere you went on the golf course there were cheers and standing ovations from all around. His wife of 31 years, Vikki Carol, marched alongside. Walking hand-in-hand, they made their way to the clubhouse, where his scorecard would be signed for the last time.
Fred Couples—the 1992 Masters champion and Wood’s fellow competitor—struggled through both rounds. Teams fought their way through six bogeys and a lone birdie in round two. He ended up with a five-over 77, completing his two-day total at four over, missing the cut by one shot. Through all of his misfortunes, Couples kept his head up. He expressed hope for future tournaments, saying, “As soon as I get in that car and drive out Magnolia Lane and come back tomorrow and have a nice lunch, I’ll be fine.”
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