The US Champions Tour had a distinctly European Senior feel to it at the weekend as Tour Members David Frost and Bernhard Langer contested the AT&T Championship in Texas – Frost eventually prevailing on the second play-off hole.
The duo each carded a final round of six under par 66 to finish tied at eight under par 208 on TPC San Antonio's Canyons Course as second-round leader Mark Calcavecchia had a 74 to finish two strokes back. He bogeyed four of the first 11 holes.
"I wasn't planning on this," Frost said. "Only when I hit it close on 13 (to set up birdie) did I think that it was just Bernhard and I with a chance to win."
"He had some unbelievable up-and-downs today," Langer said. "The par he made on 14 was unbelievable. He had three or four other ones. The putter was hot. He hit a few loose shots but always got away with it."
On the first extra hole, Langer lipped out a ten foot birdie putt. That gave Frost the opportunity, and he cashed in with a ten foot putt on the next hole to seal the biggest comeback in the 26 year history of the event.
Further down the final leaderboard, the European Senior Tour feelgood factor was maintained by Welshman Mark Mouland who finished in a tie for seventh place after an excellent closing 67, and Taipei's Chien Soon Lu, who warmed up for his defence of the Fubon Senior Open next month with a share of ninth place following a final round 69.
The tournament was the final full-field one on the US Champions Tour for 2012. The top 30 on the money list qualified for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Three players -- Langer, Tom Lehman and England’s Roger Chapman – who currently leads the European Senior Tour Order of Merit – can top the standings in Scottsdale. Lehman won the $1 million annuity last year.
"It all depends on the scenario next week," Langer said, "and there are lots of scenarios. I haven't done the maths."
