What Tiger Woods suggested people do not realise about Bernhard Langer as German seals historic victory

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It says everything about how good Bernhard Langer has been on PGA Tour Champions that the two-time Masters champion may well be best remembered for the career he has had since turning 50.

Only Seve Ballesteros won more events on the European Tour than Bernhard Langer, while the 67-year-old has also clinched the two major titles. Langer also led Europe to a record victory in the 2004 Ryder Cup. And yet, it is Langer’s longevity in the game which is perhaps his greatest legacy.

Langer had already become the most successful player in PGA Tour Champions history with his 46th victory at last year’s US Senior Open – the 12th senior major win of his career. And he has now pulled further clear of Hale Irwin, after winning the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

The victory in the season finale means that Langer has now won in 18 consecutive years on PGA Tour Champions, with the 67-year-old making a 30 foot putt for birdie on the last to win.

Tiger Woods suggested the secret to Bernhand Langer’s longevity

It is an unbelievable accolade to win in every season for nearly two decades. And speaking in 2023, Tiger Woods suggested the reason Langer has been able to continue winning more than 50 years after turning professional.

“Seeing him play, it’s more than amazing. The fact that he’s able to do everything that he does with his neck and his back, and the fact that he still does it each and every day, he works out each and every day. I think that’s what most people don’t realize, it’s how you have longevity, you train each and every day and he does that. And he’s done that consistently,” he said.

“I got a chance to play with him in 1994 to go back that far. To see what he’s done since then, and what he does each and every year and what he’s battled with on the greens, the different styles he keeps fighting through, it just goes to show the personality, the determination that he has and the type of person he is to be able to stick through everything.”

The greatest PGA Tour Champions player of all-time

What is remarkable is just how far ahead Langer and Hale Irwin are of the other greatest players in PGA Tour champions history. No-one else has won more than 30 times, with Langer three wins away from reaching a half-century.

Tom Kim was five years of age when Langer won his first event on the senior tour at the 2007 Administaff Small Business Classic. Langer shot 25 under par for three rounds to win by eight.

And while the wins are becoming less frequent, it would take a brave person to bet against Langer extending his run in 2025.