It was an impressive effort – as it often is with Bernhard Langer – but it wasn’t enough to make the cut at the BMW International Open.
In shooting 1-over 73 Friday in Munich, Germany, Langer finished three below the final cut line, drawing to a conclusion his final DP World Tour appearance.
Langer, 66, made 513 starts on the European circuit. He won 42 times, second only to Seve Ballesteros (50). His national open was never part of that victory haul but it was the perfect place for him to say goodbye, bringing full circle more than five decades as a professional.
“It’s hard to put into words. It’s been a dream come true,” said Langer, choking back tears. “I was able to live that dream for 50, 51 years now.”
He didn’t go down without a fight. After opening in 1-under 71, Langer scrambled for par after par on Day 2. At even par for the tournament and needing eagle to have any chance at the weekend, Langer took driver off the deck for his second shot on the par-5 18th. His ball found the water but he got up and down for par, making a 10-footer for a proper wrap (the cut eventually moved to 3 under).
Langer was supposed to bid adieu to the Masters in April but suffered an Achilles injury playing pickleball in February. He returned less than three months later — pushing his Augusta farewell to 2025 — and has since played six events on the PGA Tour Champions.
Langer has long been a marvel in the game. He worked as an assistant professional at nearby Munich Country Club and turned professional in 1972, when, as he described, “people didn’t know what that meant,” to play golf for a living. It took eight years before he won his first European tour event but that led to 41 more, including the 1985 and 1993 Masters Tournaments (in addition to one regular PGA Tour title, the ’85 event at Harbour Town, the week after his maiden major).
From Germany, from Europe and from the golfing world, thank you, Bernhard ❤️#BMWInternationalOpen pic.twitter.com/YEAv5F7nM9
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 5, 2024
Along the way, he competed on 10 European Ryder Cup teams and captained the victorious side in 2004 (a 9-point thrashing of the U.S. on American soil).
The German also overcame multiple battles with the yips throughout his career and what could have been a professionally crushing moment in 1991, when his missed 5-footer allowed the U.S. to win the infamous “War by the Shore” Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island.
“I had lots of ups and downs in my career,” he said. “There were physical times with the yips and other things. But I had many wonderful moments. It was a privilege to play with the Big 5, as they called it.”
That would be Langer, Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle. They all won majors, all made the World Golf Hall of Fame and all but Lyle reached world No. 1, Langer being the first man to ever do so when the Official World Golf Ranking debuted in ’85.
They also helped bring Continental Europe into the Ryder Cup in 1979 and turned the tide in the biennial competition. Europe has won or retained the cup 13 times in the last 19 matches.
“I think we spurred each other on,” Langer said of his legendary contemporaries. “I think we probably made the [European] tour in the early ‘80s and ‘90s what it is now, what it has become.”
After turning 50 in 2007, Langer won his first Champions event – and kept winning. His victory in last year’s U.S. Senior Open was his record-breaking 46th on the circuit, which he plans to continue playing.
“I was able to travel the world, meet with kings and queens. Play golf with all sorts of people, whether they were successful businessmen or just the average butcher or bricklayer or whatever,” Langer said.
“Wonderful memories, all over the world.”