Bernhard Langer is preparing for his final Masters appearance this April, but instead of a warm sendoff, the two-time champion is facing familiar accusations. Bernhard Langer, the legendary German golfer and two-time Masters champion, has left an indelible mark on Augusta National Golf Club. Langer made his Masters debut in 1982, becoming Germany’s first participant in the tournament. He quickly showcased his prowess by securing his first green jacket in 1985. His second triumph came in 1993, when he dominated the field to win by four strokes over Chip Beck. Beyond his victories, Langer’s consistency at Augusta is noteworthy. Over four decades, he made 40 appearances at the Masters, achieving nine top-10 finishes.

In 2020, at the age of 63, he became the oldest player in Masters history to make the tournament cut, a record that stood until 2023. His performances at Augusta National have cemented his status as one of the game’s greats, leaving a lasting impression on the tournament’s storied history. Langer had set 2024 as his Masters farewell, but a torn Achilles in March forced him to miss his final curtain call. A simple update about his final Augusta campaign on X reignited the long-standing controversy surrounding his putting stroke, and golf fans didn’t hold back.

NUCLR GOLF on X shared a post that read, “Bernhard Langer will tee it up at The Masters for the final time this year, and while he admitted that winning is not realistic, he still has a goal of playing the weekend. (Via Palm Springs Desert Sun)” For most legends, a farewell at Augusta is a moment of celebration. But for Langer, it reopened old wounds. Within minutes, the comments flooded in—not about his career, not about his legacy, but about whether he deserves to be in the field and, more damningly, whether he plays fair at all.

Some fans took it a step further, suggesting that Langer’s Masters farewell wasn’t just about nostalgia—it reignited old debates about his putting technique.

Fans reignite Langer’s anchoring controversy

Langer has been at the center of one of golf’s most debated rules for years. When the USGA and R&A banned anchored putting in 2016, Langer adjusted his stroke but continued using a broomstick putter. Many fans (and even some fellow pros) have argued that his method still looks like anchoring, even though officials have repeatedly cleared him. And yet, a user remarked on the X post: “He may not win, but you can be sure he’ll be cheating. Consistency.” Another said: “This guy cheats with this anchored putter. He shouldn’t be allowed to play”

Langer, who is known for his quiet discipline, hasn’t always responded to criticism. But back in 2017, when the accusations were at their peak, he admitted they hurt: “I personally don’t understand it because I’m a man of integrity, and the last thing I want to do is break rules and be known as cheating,” he told reporters ahead of the Senior Open Championship that year. He doubled down, saying he regularly consulted with rules officials, who assured him his stroke was legal. “You have a few people that come up on Twitter or somewhere else, and question my integrity, which is really hurtful. But I can’t stop people talking.”

And yet, people are still talking. Even as he prepares for his final Masters, Langer can’t escape the old whispers. Yet another comment said, “Use a regular putter”

Some fans also believe Langer might be hoarding a space for fresh talent: “I don’t understand why senior tour players take a field spot when they know they cannot compete with PGA players. Perhaps they could yield to up-and-coming younger players. Embarrassing.” Many golf fans are of this opinion. Under the X post, someone else quipped: “Didn’t he retire from The Masters last year?” Cold.

Regardless, the German golfer also has some loyal fans on his side: “The chivalry of doing something you know you can’t do. The 1985 and 1993 green jacket winner no longer has anything to prove.”  The official ruling on Langer’s stroke is clear. According to the USGA, for a stroke to be considered anchoring, a player must either directly anchor the club or hand against their body, or create an anchor point by bracing their forearm against their body.

Langer’s stroke, by the letter of the law, does neither. He intentionally moves his hand and forearm away from his chest while putting. The ruling bodies have even addressed a common argument from critics—that his putter occasionally brushes against his shirt. The USGA clarified that “unintentionally brushing a hand or club against the body or clothing during a stroke does not constitute a breach.”

For Bernhard Langer, this Masters should be a celebration of a career that spans decades, 42 European Tour wins, and two green jackets. Instead, he’s being forced to relitigate a debate that should have ended years ago. He knows he won’t win, but he wants to make the cut. Whether fans choose to appreciate his legacy—or keep calling him a cheater—is another story.