After his record-shattering 13-shot victory in the 2014 Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex, German golf legend Bernhard Langer is relishing a return to the world-renowned links of Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in July.
The Senior Open Championship returns to South Wales for this year’s Senior Open from July 27-30, where Langer lifted the Senior Claret Jug for the second time three years ago. The former World Number One remains the dominant force in over-50s golf, having won 34 tournaments on both sides of the Atlantic since 2008, including seven Senior Major Championships.
Winner of the Masters Tournament in 1985 and 1993, Langer says his appetite for victory shows no sign of being satiated.
“I haven’t lost the desire,” he said. “I can’t speak for my colleagues, but the guys who are still competing at our age have that fire in their belly. They are true champions. They like to win, otherwise they wouldn’t still be here competing.
“Many Americans have to fly across the pond, and they look forward to it because they love to compete and test themselves against the best in the world.”
Langer’s rounds of 65-66-68-67, which saw him win the 2014 Senior Open by 13 shots from fellow former Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie, were regarded by three-time Senior Open Champion Tom Watson as the best four rounds of golf played anywhere in the world that year.
“It means a lot coming from Tom Watson, who is the links course specialist,” said Langer. “Everything came together that year, I drove the ball extremely well in the conditions we had.
“The fairways were firm and the ball was bouncing a lot. I drove it great. I putted well, making a number of long putts. I didn’t three-putt often, if at all. Combined with a decent iron game, it allowed me to move myself ahead of the field and, in the end, it was a wonderful march down the last few holes with a very comfortable lead.
“Monty played some really good golf himself and, if I hadn’t been there, he would have won the Championship. That kind of form only happens once in a blue moon. I have been fortunate to have that in my career a few times.
“No matter what Tour you play on, or where in the world you play, there’s always competition and you have to distance yourself from the field.
“I would be thrilled to be in the hunt for the Championship coming down the last nine holes and win the trophy, but I doubt anyone is going to win by that margin this year.”
Langer is one of potentially 11 former European and United States Ryder Cup Captains in line to tee it up at the Senior Open Championship, including José María Olazábal, Paul McGinley, Colin Montgomerie and home favourite Ian Woosnam.
Paul Broadhurst, a member of Europe’s 1991 Ryder Cup team, will defend the Senior Claret Jug which he won at Carnoustie last year when the Senior Open returns to the links of Royal Porthcawl, Wales.
Tickets are on sale now and hospitality packages are also available. For tickets and more information, clickhereor call +44 (0) 800 023 2557.
