‘No Way I Could Walk..’: Bernhard Langer’s Recovery Cut Short Despite Miracle Comeback From Achilles Tear

Is Bernhard Langer healthy enough to play golf again?. In early February, Langer notified that he had torn his Achilles tendon during a training exercise. However, in March, the German pro explained at the Musing on Golf podcast and disclosed that the incident actually occurred when he played pickleball.

The 66-year-old recalled how he sustained the injury. During the game, he heard a noise similar to a gunshot during the play and realized that it was a torn Achilles. Usually, it takes 4-6 months to recover fully recover from the Achilles tendon surgery. But miraculously, Langer will be returning in only two months post-surgery. The catch is that he cannot walk the 18 holes without the assistance of carts.

Bernhard Langer is grateful that PGA Tour Champions allow the use of carts

Unlike the PGA Tour, where the players have to walk on two feet from hole to hole, the PGA Tour Champions don’t impose similar rules, and it is a relief for players like Bernhard Langer recovering from surgeries. At the Insperity Invitational, Bernhard Langer will be taking up his first challenge after the surgery.

Before his game at The Woodlands, Langer gave an interview to SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio and revealed how he would not take the risk of walking so soon and how the PGA Tour Champions rules aid him further. The 66-year-old gratifyingly, said, “That’s another blessing, our Tour allows to use carts because there’s no way I could walk 18 holes. It’s not in the cards, right now.”

Langer also explained that his decision not to walk all the holes might persist for several weeks or even months. However, even if he takes a cart on the course, there would still be a need for him to walk a bit. The German pro exclaimed, “I don’t wanna take the carts to the tee box or on to the greens. And we are not allowed to anyways, so I’m gonna have to do some walking and I’m happy to do it.”

The PGA Tour Champions pro doesn’t want to put any unnecessary pressure on his Achilles tendon. One wrong step and it might be injured again, so Langer explained, “I just don’t want to overdo it at this point in time.” Without using his feet much, will Langer be able to win his 47th victory on the PGA Tour Champions? He thinks he surely can! especially after getting motivated by an NFL star’s recovery journey.

Langer gets inspiration from Aaron Rodgers and wants to win again

Undergoing the surgery and the whole recovery process might’ve been an uphill battle, but the German revealed that through it, he got inspiration from the NY Jets’s Aaron Rodgers, who tore his tendon last September and came back to play only after 77 days in recovery. Langer thought if Rodgers could achieve it, he could do something similar as well.

Citing the quarterback, the 66-year-old said, “I heard from other athletes who had similar injuries, like Aaron Rodgers. That encouraged me that I might be able to do something similar.” Now, with a somewhat recovered tendon and his wish to win again on the PGA Tour Champions, Langer thinks “I still think I can win on certain golf courses,” if he brings out his best at the age of 66.

Langer holds the record for most wins on the PGA Tour Champions with 46 titles in his resume. Will he be able to pick on the 47th at the Insperity Invitational? If all goes well, Langer will not be disappointed.