The legend that is Bernhard Langer continues to grow unimpeded either by age or injury, suggesting as it does that there is truth to the superiority of German engineering.

Langer, a German native who now is a youthful 67, in a season derailed for nearly four months by a torn Achilles in February, engineered what has to be among his most satisfying victories on the PGA Tour Champions.

On the verge of kicking away what at one point seemed inevitable, the 47th victory of his senior career, Langer somehow regrouped at the 18th hole by holing a 35-foot birdie putt to win the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club. It was the 18th consecutive year he has won at least one tournament on the senior circuit.

“I’m like you. I’m speechless,” Langer said. “Was that exciting, or what? The start I had was just incredible. I was totally in the zone. The easiest putt I had, a six-footer, I missed it for my fifth birdie in a row. I played good and then got a little unrattled there on the back nine, and Steven Alker got going.

“It’s unbelievable. I can’t describe it. To win this big tournament after what I’ve been through, to make it 18 years in a row out here, it’s quite amazing. I’m very grateful. I’m very blessed.”

Langer, who took a one-stroke lead into the final round, birdied the first four holes and five of the first six on Sunday en route to a front-nine six-under-par 30 to open what appeared to be an insurmountable lead.

But consecutive bogeys to begin the back nine gave those in pursuit hope, notably Alker and Richard Green. Eventually a bogey at 17 dropped him into a three-way tie for the lead with Alker and Green, and a misguided tee shot at the par-5 18th jeopardized his quest for victory. Then came the long birdie putt that gave him a one-stroke lead over Alker, who then missed his birdie putt to tie.

“That’s Bernhard Langer for you, you know what I mean?” Alker said. “That’s the way he finishes.”

Alker’s consolation prize was that he won the seasonlong Charles Schwab Cup for the second time.

Steven Alker congratulates Bernhard Langer on the 18th green during the final round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club. Ben Jared

Steven Alker congratulates Bernhard Langer on the 18th green during the final round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club.
Ben Jared

“Yeah, it means a lot,” he said. “It’s a seasonlong race, so consistency, you want to try to get some wins in there as well. I’m proud of the fact that I kept that consistency over the last few years. Just competing with Bernhard and everybody out here on the Champions Tour, it’s just made me a better player. I’m very grateful for that.”

Langer closed with a five-under 66 and a 72-hole total of 18-under 266.

“When we arrived here on Monday, I mentioned to Terry [Holt, his caddie] that we haven’t won this year and we’ve only got one more chance,” Langer said. “This was the least likely one to win because I’ve just never done very well here for some reason. But I had one of the best putting weeks of my life.

“Obviously, this is even more exciting to be holding this trophy, one that’s eluded me so many years.”

Main Image: Christian Petersen