It is going to be a sad ending at the 35th BMW International Open as Bernhard Langer will bid farewell to the European greens forever. The 66-year-old pro has enjoyed an illustrious career on the DP World Tour since his debut in 1974 as a young star from Germany. Over the past 40 years, Langer has played over 500 events on the European Tour, and at the Golfclub München Eichenried, it will be his last start on home soil.

Just over 45 minutes from the Golfclub München Eichenried is Langer’s hometown, and 30 minutes from the club is the Munich Country Club, where the 66-year-old pro used to work as an assistant professional. Thus, this start will be a memorable and emotional one for the German pro. Talking to the DP World Tour and relaying his thoughts, Langer said, “I don’t know yet how I will react,” once the event ends.

As many things happen for the first time, from victories to losses, this is a first for Langer’s decorative career as well. For the first time, he will be bidding goodbye to the league that made him the greatest golfer Germany has ever produced and crowned him as the second-most-winning golfer with 42 victories on the European Tour, only tying with Spanish great Severiano Ballesteros. He says, “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.” 

Playing the BMW International Open for the 23rd and last time, Langer has wished to make the cut, and though a victory might not be feasible, just play till the weekend in front of the home crowd. Although it might be a challenge for the 66-year-old as his length is getting shorter and the course has become longer, Langer might still have it in him to prevail through all that comes his way. Just as he did one month ago.

Bernhard Langer’s return after the Achilles tendon surgery 

Langer will never play the DP World Tour events in his life. However, he will still be seen at the PGA Tour Champions, raking in record-breaking wins on the older circuit. Just when the older pros like Tiger Woods lost their charm as back-to-back injuries slowed him down, Langer surpassed all the obstacles in a breeze.

In February 2024, Langer was playing a pickleball match during which he tore his left Achilles tendon. The recovery from such an injury and eventual surgery usually takes more than 6–8 months to return to an arduous sport like golf. However, in a mere three months, Langer returned to the 2024 Insperity Invitational in May.

The 66-year-old shared about his post-surgery rehab and was hopeful that the injury has not derailed his golfing skills. The golfing great said, “I think I can still be very productive for a few more years. I still think I have a lot of good golf left in me.” That month, with his still-recovering tendon, Langer finished T31 on the leaderboard and proved himself once again.

But it shouldn’t come as a surprise, as Langer has been a legendary player on the senior tour as well. If counting the numbers in his illustrious career, he is the only PGA Tour Champions pro to win 12 senior majors and complete the Senior Major Slam. Also, the 66-year-old holds the record for most wins (46) surpassing Hale Irwin’s 45 titles, and has earned more than any senior golfer. And as he believes that he can go another year, that record might only stand until Langer wins again.

His perseverance through all the ups and downs of the game of golf has made him an inspirational golfer, and not just for the fans who call him incredible, legendary, smart, the German Hero, and whatnot. For someone who has been playing for more than 40 years and is still in great form, fans can’t find enough adjectives to describe their favorite golfer.

Langer has successfully prevailed and made a name for himself, so much so that even his fellow pros cannot but appreciate all his efforts and compliment such a long run.

PGA Tour Champions pros impressed with Langer’s illustrious career

He was the first professional player to ever be ranked first on the Official World Golf Rankings in 1986. His career has been a testament to how hard work pays off and an inspiration to another German pro, Alex Cejka. The 53-year-old pro told Langer at the 35th BMW International Open that at the age of 12 or 13, he played the German Open in Frankfurt and saw Langer’s play there.

Only after seeing him did Cejka decide to take up golf and play just like him, and now, surprisingly, both of them play together at the PGA Tour Champions, where Langer is still a winning golfer. Cejka, appreciating the 66-year-old, said, “It’s a thing where everyone wants to be Bernhard Langer, career-wise.”

Another senior league player who paid tribute to Langer and his legacy was his Ryder Cup vice-captain, Thomas Bjorn. The Danish pro pressed that, after playing many tournaments and practice rounds with Langer, he wanted to be present at the BMW International Open for the German pro’s final appearance. He claimed that Langer moved mountains for golfers around the world and was a trailblazer at his peak. Appreciating the pro, he further added, “You will never meet a truer gentleman in the game than Bernhard Langer.” 

Padraig Harrington was also full of love for Langer and his energy to still play and win on the senior circuit. After playing a round at the US Senior Open, Harrington praised Langer’s victory at the major in 2023 and his game as he turned 67. The English pro said, “It’s incredible, how good he is; it’s astounding. He still gets it out there. He is efficient. But by God, does he know how to play golf?” 

Indeed, it has been an iconic run for Bernhard Langer on the DP World Tour, as he raked in many records and represented Germany on the international level. From the fans to the top players, and as the European Tour said to the favorite golfer in the league, ‘Danke Langer!’