McIlroy aiming for Langer's longevity

Rory McIlroy may play a very different game to Bernhard Langer but he revealed after the third round of the 2020 Masters Tournament that he would like to take a leaf out of the two time Green Jacket winner's book in future.

The duo went out in the first group of the day off the first in round three, with 63-year-old Langer becoming the oldest player ever to make it to the third round this week.

At 32 years McIlroy's senior, Langer admitted the Northern Irishman was beating him off the tee by anything from 40 to 100 yards but, after seeing McIlroy put a chip to four feet on the last, Langer got inside him from a similar spot.

This is the German's 37th trip to Augusta National Golf Club and he will be able to make as many more as he likes by virtue of his victories in 1985 and 1993.

The Masters is the only Major Championship missing from McIlroy's collection, but he said he would love to emulate Langer when he reaches his 60s.

"I try to think about what scores I would shoot if I was hitting it where he hit it," he said. "Honestly it's like me playing an 8,500 yard golf course. That's what it's like.

"It's so impressive, just the way he methodically plots his way around and gets it up and down when he needs to. It's really cool to watch.  

"I wish in 30 years' time I'm back here doing the exact same thing."

Both men were smiling when Langer holed a putt from as many feet as his age on the 16th, and the 42 time European Tour winner believes McIlroy has all the attributes to one day join him at the Champion's Dinner.

"He certainly has the game," he said. "He hits it far, he hits it high.  

"Today his putting was tremendous. I mean, he missed one putt that lipped out, but he made everything that he possibly could make.  

"If you have the length and you putt well, why wouldn't you win around here?"