I’ve long been fascinated by Langer, and what he has been able to do on the Champion’s Tour. If you aren’t aware, after you turn 50 if you meet the qualifications you become eligible to play on the Champions Tour for 50+-year-olds. Usually, these players are just barely hanging on to their tour cards in their late 40s or playing on exemptions ranked in the hundreds. There are of course a few exceptions, but when they turn 50 even the players that can still compete on the PGA Tour play some on the Champions tour.
Let’s be frank, when you are 50 it’s easier to beat 50+-year-olds and make some solid money than it is to make cuts on the PGA tour. You usually see debutantes on the tour highly ranked and winning. Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker both won immediately, and even lesser players like Jerry Kelly make noise early on. That’s usually how it seems to go with players winning more the closer they are to 50 naturally as the aging process continues. What is amazing about Langer is at 65 he’s still a top player on the tour and has been even in his 60s. He’s the greatest player in Champion Tour history and showing no signs of going away yet.
Langer has won 11 Majors on the Champions Tour, and 34 other top 10 finishes.
Charles Schwab Cup
Rank
Age
2022
7
65
2020-21
1
63/64
2019
4
62
2018
1
61
2017
1
60
2016
1
59
2015
1
58
2014
1
57
2013
1
56
2012
1
55
2011
1
54
2010
1
53
2009
1
52
2008
1
51
To say he has dominated the Champions Tour is an understatement. This is the first season there has been any noticeable slippage dropping to 7th. The last time it looked like father time had finally arrived and he dropped to 4th from #1 he was back at #1 the next season. I wouldn’t put it past him to return, but he is 65 now. At some point, he has to give way to the younger players.
Langer had a great PGA Career as well, reaching world number one and winning 2 majors, both Masters. Winning the master’s has given him a stage to compete, still well into his 60s with the best in the world, which is what I find most interesting. I have played Draft Kings since 2015 and every master and have often been tempted to play Langer as one of the cheapest players. You could never envision him winning after 50, but it always felt like he was likely to make the cut and could have a top 10 finish on a course he knew so well.
We’ve seen players like Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson have top 6 finishes at 57 and 59 years old in Majors. Langer had a T8 himself at the Masters in 2014 at the age of 56. I still recall the interview he had in 2016 in Butler Cabin with Jim Nance. He and Smylie Kaufman were both being interviewed, placing 2nd and 3rd place after 54 holes. The 4th Round wouldn’t be kind to either of them but it was still proof that he could put it together for a few days.
Langer has made 6 of 9 cuts since 2013 at the Masters and has a top 10 finish and 4 in the top 30. That would be a good career for many players, and he did that all after the age of 55. He was also allowed to play in two Open Championships since 2015 and made both cuts, including a T24 in 2018. Langer has also played a few other PGA and European Tour events as well the last decade and has some pretty good showings in them too. T58 in a stacked RBC Heritage in 2020 most recently. The guy can still play even at 65 he’s a threat to make a cut in a major or dominate the Champions Tour. It’s kind of crazy, and I’m curious will he still be playing at a high level into his 70s? He probably shoots his age this season. Bernhard Langer net worth, will only increase as he continues to rank on the money leaders.
