Bernhard Langer won the Chubb Classic on the Champions Tour at the weekend, using the banned broomstick putter.
But Germany’s greatest golfer overcame the ban of anchoring the putter to the chest by moving the top of the putter five to seven centimetres away from his chest.
“My first win unattached,” was the triumphant Langer’s summation.
There have been no public complaints from his peers, nor the USPGA, so it can only be assumed Langer’s decision is legal.
Over the years, Langer has been one of the worst sufferers of the dreaded putting ‘yips’ – the broomstick virtually saved his career.
It will be interesting to see how Langer’s shrewd move is treated by the powers that be, especially as he’s now 58, and having to bend down so much lower to use the regulation short-shafted putter would affect him physically.
Langer fired in a ten-under 62 in the first round of the Chubb Classic in Florida, and followed it up with a 66 and a 73 in very windy conditions for a 15-under total, and a three-shot win over Freddie Couples.
It was his 26th win on the Champions Tour, third only to Hale Irwin’s 42 and Lee Trevino’s 29.
If it hadn’t been for long periods of the yips, Langer’s record in Europe would be even better. But it’s pretty impressive as it is, with 42 wins, second only to Seve Ballesteros’ 50, followed by Tiger Woods’ 40, Colin Montgomerie’s 31 and Nick Faldo’s 30.
Langer was the first official world number one when the rankings started, in April 1986. Langer was ten times a European Ryder Cup rep in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 and 2002, and Cup captain in 2004.
He was the European Player of the Year in 1985 and 1993 and the European Tour’s leading money-winner in 1981 and 1984. Winner of the US Masters in 1985 and 1993, Langer was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002.
But Langer’s record on the Champions Tour has been even more impressive with the advent of the broomstick.
He’s won five senior majors – the British Open in 2010 and 2014, the US Open in 2010, and the Constellation Championship in 2014 and 2015.
He was the Champions Tour Player of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, and 2015, and the leading money-winner in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Langer has also won the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup, the Champions Tour equivalent of the FedExCup, in 2010, 2014, and 2015.
That’s a lot of success since he first picked up a golf club at eight, turned pro at 15, and won his first tournament – the German Open – at 17.
Simply, Bernhard Langer was born to win.
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