Bernhard Langer says the goodwill from players and fans alike will make for a “very emotional” farewell appearance on the DP World Tour at the BMW International Open in Germany.
The European great, Germany’s most successful player of all time, will make his 513th and final appearance on Golf’s Global Tour this week at Golfclub München Eichenried.
Since his debut appearance in 1974, Langer has won 42 titles on the DP World Tour across five decades – a feat bettered only by the late, great Severiano Ballesteros.
The two-time Masters champion continues to enjoy success on the PGA TOUR Champions, the 50-and-over circuit, at the age of 66, but his 23rd appearance at Germany’s most historic professional golf tournament will mark the end of this chapter in his illustrious career.
“I don’t know yet (how I will react)," said Langer, who arrives in Germany having played at the U.S. Senior Open last week. “I've never said goodbye to anything so far in terms of golf, this is going to be a first experience and I have a feeling it's going to be very emotional.”
Langer was set to make his final appearance at the Masters Tournament in April, but that original plan was pushed back by a year because of an Achilles tendon tear playing pickleball in February.
He was back playing less than three months later on the PGA TOUR champions, where he holds a record 46 career titles.
“I'm feeling much better,” he said. “It's five months today since the operation and things are getting better and better.
“So, I’m starting to walk more and more. It’s still a bit difficult at times, but golf is not a problem.
“I can rotate pretty good. I can transfer the weight. I’m just a little weak, my calf muscle is much smaller on my left leg than my right leg. My balance is not quite there, but we'll work on it.”
Langer last played at the BMW International Open – where he has finished second on five occasions – more than a decade ago in 2012, and he is anticipating a difficult challenge on an exacting layout as he plays in a regular DP World Tour event for the first time since 2018.
“It means a great deal, just to play in front of the home crowd. And hopefully I can make the cut, but I hear the golf course is a lot longer than it used to be, and that's a challenge for me.
“I'm getting shorter, and the course is getting longer and that's not a good combination.”
The sense of this being a fitting finale for Langer on the DP World Tour is made more prevalent, with this week’s host venue being nearby to where he made some of his first steps in the game.
Playing golf but from a tree 🌳😅
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 2, 2024
One of the iconic moments from Bernhard Langer's illustrious DP World Tour career. #BMWInternationalOpen | #TourArchive pic.twitter.com/VbrSPFhGEr
“I grew up about 45 minutes from here,” he explained. “I worked as an Assistant professional 30 minutes from here at Munich Country Club.
“I have a lot of friends, some relatives and just people that have been with me, supported me for many, many years in the game of golf, and obviously I've played this tournament many times.
“It’s the only one I haven't won yet in Germany. So it was always tricky, but I’m glad to be back.”
Langer will play alongside countrymen Marcel Siem, who won his sixth DP World Tour title last week at the Italian Open presented by Regione Emilia-Romagna, and fellow two-time Major winner Martin Kaymer.
