BERNHARD LANGER 48 YEARS ON TOUR INTERVIEW – Golf News

Q. How is your sport shaping up coming into the event coming off the primary event at Hualalai?

BERNHARD LANGER: Yeah, I felt rusty at Hualalai. I didn’t play my perfect, however additionally they modified that golf course. It’s nearly the other from Tiburón. It’s large open. There’s no tough in any respect. There’s little or no punishment in case you spray it, and the bombers have an enormous benefit.

You take a look at the leaderboard, there have been largely bombers up there.

The opposite factor that occurred over the break day for the reason that Schwab Cup, my mom handed away. She was 100. She lives in Germany. So we traveled to Germany for a few weeks, and no golf, clearly. There was snow and chilly climate. So my sport was a bit rusty.

However I’m engaged on it the subsequent couple of weeks, and I’m hoping to be prepared when the Chubb Basic comes round.

Q. You’re additionally going to be going for an additional one in every of Hale Irwin’s data this 12 months. For those who three-peat, you’ll get your sixth Chubb Basic win. Hale Irwin received Turtle Bay six occasions. Such as you mentioned on the prime, with the opposite document for 45 behind your head, is that going to be behind your thoughts in any respect throughout event week?

BERNHARD LANGER: Effectively, it’s now. I didn’t even find out about that. Now that you just’ve made me conscious of it, I’ll attempt even more durable. It’s fairly one thing else to win a event two or thrice, and for Hale to win that event six occasions is unbelievable. Clearly he beloved that golf course, however it’s the identical with me at Tiburón. Hopefully I’ll get right into a tiebreaker there, as properly.

Q. I do know your mother and father had been hardworking individuals. Simply curious up entrance what’s the most effective lesson your mother taught you?

BERNHARD LANGER: The most effective lesson was to at all times be trustworthy and easy, to not lie, to not cheat. I attempted to get away with some issues after I was a child, and that didn’t prove excellent. So I discovered the arduous method. But it surely was an important lesson, so simply let your sure be sure and your no be no, and in case you promise one thing, do it, and in case you do a activity, no matter it’s, something, do it to the most effective of your functionality. That’s what I used to be taught by my mother and father, no matter it could be. For those who clear the ground, clear the ground so it’s clear; don’t go away some behind. For those who do that, do it, give it one hundred pc, and be happy with what you’re doing.

Q. You turned professional so younger and also you’ve been doing this so lengthy, a competitor for greater than 50 years, how do you stoke the fireplace to begin one other season?

BERNHARD LANGER: It’s type of straightforward for me as a result of I’m a really aggressive individual. I like to compete. As most of you understand, I began very younger. I turned professional at 15, joined the Tour after I was 18, so I’ve been doing this a really very long time.

I’ve discovered to take break day right here and there. I’ve discovered to tempo myself. I’m listening to my physique after I want breaks and after I want occasions away from golf and to recuperate. I’m doing different issues in between.

When event time comes round, I’m often desperate to go. Golf has been such a giant a part of my life, aggressive golf, that it’s nearly arduous to ascertain my life with out it.

Q. The TOUR have introduced a brand new funding cope with personal fairness teams. Nowhere did they focus on the potential for bringing cash to the Champions Tour. I’d prefer to know your ideas as a result of your purses have been languishing significantly in comparison with what the PGA TOUR purses are like. I’d prefer to know what your ideas are, and do you are feeling such as you guys ought to get a few of this largesse that the TOUR is now going to be getting from personal fairness?

BERNHARD LANGER: You already know, these are nice questions, and I wasn’t in a position to take part of the decision that we had this morning with the PAC as a result of I had different commitments and I couldn’t get out of it. So I actually don’t know the main points but. So I’m not going to remark a lot on this as a result of I’m not likely correctly knowledgeable. We’d have to do that once more in per week or two.

We’re affiliated with the PGA TOUR. Clearly the PGA TOUR Champions are (indiscernible). The higher the PGA TOUR does, the higher we should always do.

Hopefully they won’t neglect us completely and go away us within the mud. Hopefully we are going to profit from no matter develops.

However once more, I’m in no place to make any statements right here at this cut-off date.

Q. Due to being the Senior Open champion, you’ve already made it recognized or Augusta has made it recognized that is going to be your final 12 months enjoying within the Masters, so this might be your final 12 months enjoying in majors. At 66, how do you put together for them each bodily and emotionally, going to locations like Pinehurst, going again to Augusta for the final time as a participant? How are you going to arrange for that, and what do you foresee that being like from an emotional standpoint?

BERNHARD LANGER: Yeah, I’m unsure easy methods to get myself prepared for that. I’ve by no means achieved that earlier than. It’s going to be very emotional, particularly Augusta, as a result of it’s been a giant a part of my life. I really like the event. I really like the golf course. I really like what they do for the sport of golf. It’s going to be a troublesome farewell for me strolling up the 18th the final time in aggressive circumstances.

Clearly I nonetheless plan on going again there yearly to take part within the champions dinner and possibly play the par-3 course. I’ve household and buddies up there and stroll round with the younger guys a bit bit.

Emotionally it’s going to be very troublesome. In any other case I’ll simply put together like I at all times do: Try to convey my “A” sport, be prepared for the challenges that the particular course that I’ll face, and at Augusta it’s size. I’m going to be hitting lots of hybrids and 3-woods into par-4s. I cannot attain par-5s. I’m going to should have wedge sport and hopefully make some putts.

Q. I wished to ask you a query in regards to the proposed golf ball rollback by the USGA and the R&A. I do know it’s a couple of 12 months away, however I believe it’s fascinating, particularly as you mentioned earlier, that you don’t play an influence sport. You play extra of a precision sport. How do you assume that is going to be accepted internationally and throughout the excursions once they truly do roll the ball again?

BERNHARD LANGER: Yeah, that’s an important query, and we’ve been debating this, what, 30 years now in all probability, when it began. When Tiger Woods got here alongside and hit it some distances that — properly, Jack was actually lengthy, Nicklaus. However I personally really feel a number of the thrill of golf is to hit the ball far. (Indiscernible) different individuals can hit it far. John Daly was one of the prolific individuals enjoying golf, not simply because he was entertaining along with his golf, however he was hitting the ball additional than anyone else, and identical with Tiger and identical whoever hits the ball very far has a big following, and never simply out on TOUR however any beginner that performs golf. They speak about how far they hit it. They don’t speak about, oh, I made a 30-foot putt or I had a chip-in or one thing or I made a par. They speak in regards to the large drive they hit someplace.

That’s one subject; you’ll take some pleasure away from the sport.

The opposite subject is that the ball producers have spent a lot cash in producing a aggressive ball, and we’re speaking a number of producers, not simply Titleist, and so the hazard could be if the TOUR gamers should play a unique ball than the amateurs, I believe that doesn’t work in any respect, as a result of now you’re forcing mainly these ball producers to spend tens of millions and tens of millions and making a product that received’t promote. No person will purchase the ball that we play if it goes shorter. They need to hit it far.

So there’s lots of points. I perceive golf programs have to be longer, we use extra water, we use extra ferret advertiser. These days the golf course must be 7500, was once 6500.

I’ve designed some programs I keep in mind 30 years in the past I designed bunkers at 240 yards, 250 yards from the again tee. Effectively, the nice gamers don’t even sniff these; they fly it 50 over these. So it’s a predicament that’s not straightforward. In any other case they’d have solved the problem a very long time in the past.

I don’t know if this has ever been mentioned. I mentioned, why not make the golf ball a bit bit bigger, all golf balls, in order that it received’t go as far, fairly as far. You push extra air, you may make the golf gap a bit bit greater. You continue to face the identical dilemma I’m speaking about, however at the very least we’re enjoying the identical golf ball. I’m one in every of tens of millions who’re discussing this, and I could not have the reply. I simply see the issues we’re going through.

Q. Having achieved what was in all probability your final large purpose of 46 wins on the Champions Tour and surpassing Hale Irwin’s complete, what’s the subsequent large purpose? We see lots of gamers obtain a letdown after attaining the purpose that’s been of their minds for a very long time. Simply questioning in case you’d share what that subsequent large purpose of yours is.

BERNHARD LANGER: Yeah, I’ve by no means had an issue setting new targets. It’s thrilling. It’s a problem. I like challenges.

My total purpose was at all times to get higher. How can I enhance. Chances are you’ll be laughing at me. You’re 66, you’re not going to enhance. Effectively, I do know day by day I play golf, I might be higher. I might be a greater putter. I might be a greater chipper or bunker participant, and I may hit yet one more fairway, yet one more inexperienced. So that’s the purpose, to be mentally powerful, to be having a swing that I can depend on, have a way that’s repeatable or repetitive and aggressive.

That’s my purpose, total purpose. If I can obtain that, I’m assured I’ll have an opportunity to win extra tournaments. Perhaps a greater probability on programs like Tiburón. Perhaps much less of an opportunity on programs like we simply performed in Hawai’i. However I’m conscious of that. However there can be some tournaments the place accuracy is extra necessary than size.

As I plan my schedule in all probability the subsequent few years, I’ll possibly focus extra on a number of the golf programs, venues that can go well with my sport higher. So as a substitute of possibly enjoying 25 to 26 occasions a 12 months, I would reduce it again to 22 or 20, which remains to be a full schedule.

However there can be some tournaments the place I really feel I’m nonetheless adequate to win. The purpose is at all times to win. Win tournaments, win extra majors, and be in competition, since you get that adrenaline rush while you’re in competition and also you play the sport that you just love and also you’ve practiced all of your life.

Q. Bernhard, constructing on what Mike requested, you talked about over the subsequent few years type of how you’d plan your schedule. Do you’ve gotten a purpose in thoughts for the way lengthy you’d prefer to proceed enjoying, or is it simply one thing that you just’re going to type of consider on a 12 months to 12 months foundation?

BERNHARD LANGER: Yeah, it’s obtained to be extra like 12 months to 12 months. I believe it’s largely how my physique feels and what’s happening in my personal life. You may’t play good golf in case your physique received’t mean you can, in order that’s one of many key issues, and I give attention to exercising and stretching and protecting my physique in fine condition. That’s one in every of my principal targets.

The opposite factor is that if if I’m not aggressive anymore and I end fortieth or fiftieth week after week after week, I’m going to only hold it up as a result of for somebody who’s used to successful and being in competition, I think about it’s not a lot enjoyable ending on the again half of the sector each week.

However that’s my feeling proper now. I’m not there but. I’m nonetheless aggressive. I’ll take it, as you say, 12 months by 12 months, and see how issues are going.

Q. You talked about earlier this month that this can be your final — your last Masters. Speak about that a bit bit, simply wanting ahead to only strolling the fairways of Augusta Nationwide in a aggressive nature one last time. Naturally you’ll be there yearly, however simply type of speak in regards to the ideas of your recollections of the Masters and strolling the fairways for one last time in April.

BERNHARD LANGER: Yeah, it’s going to be in a technique an exquisite expertise to rejoice the numerous years I’ve been there and all of the experiences I’ve had. Enjoying the course within the ’80s was completely completely different than now. There was no tough. There have been large fairways. The perimeters had been pine needles. So it was all in regards to the second shot.

Now they’ve planted 5,000 bushes or extra. The fairways are fairly a bit tighter. You might have tough on each side.

It’s nonetheless a second-shot golf course, however it’s a a lot more durable driving golf course now than it ever has been earlier than. The chutes are very slender, like 17, 18, No. 2. Then there’s lots of tee photographs the place you should be very exact, and also you want size as a result of the golf course is admittedly — the greens are designed to return in with a 7-iron or 8-iron. I requested Jack Nicklaus in a follow spherical one time, enjoying with him and Arnie, and I mentioned in your prime, Jack, while you had been in competition yearly on the Masters, what was your second shot distance, what sort of golf equipment had been you hitting into these greens, and it didn’t take him lengthy, and he mentioned, probably the most I ever hit was an 8 or 9-iron into the par-4s. In order that’s what they’re attempting to realize now with the fellows that hit it 300 plus, and again then they hit their 9-iron I’m guessing 140, 150. Effectively, now they hit their 9-iron 170. They needed to make modifications across the course.

However I’m so happy with the Masters, what they’ve achieved with the event. There may be not one tent on the entire premises. It’s all strong development for one week. They began the Drive, Chip & Putt. They began the beginner event the week earlier than. They’ve beginner tournaments all over the world which they’re concerned in, and it’s been an incredible nearly establishment, what they do for the sport of golf.

I’m very proud and completely happy (indiscernible) for the Masters (indiscernible). As I mentioned, I’ll be very emotional. Hopefully I received’t be crying enjoying these previous few holes, however there’s no assure as a result of I’ve buddies from Germany flying in. My brother will fly over. I’ve a number of American buddies that can try to come up and assist me and be there for me after I play my final spherical which is hopefully Sunday, not Friday, however we’ll see.

I nonetheless look ahead to, as I mentioned, being a part of this nice championship sooner or later as I in all probability (indiscernible). The Sunday (indiscernible) after which I play the par-3 (indiscernible).

It’s all thrilling. It’s all good. I’ve had my time there. (Indiscernible) for me to pack it up on that golf course.

THE MODERATOR: The Chubb Basic goes to be a pleasant — I wouldn’t name it a tune-up. That’s not the best phrase since you’re going to your sixth win there. You’re going to get your sport in actually fine condition in a pair weeks on the Tiburón Black Course. Bernhard, thanks. Sandy, thanks for becoming a member of. Everyone on the decision, thanks for becoming a member of, as properly.

BERNHARD LANGER: Can I say yet one more factor? Sorry to interrupt you. I simply need to thank Chubb and Servpro and everyone concerned with the event for all of the charitable work they’re doing for native charities. We actually didn’t contact on that. However that is likely one of the principal causes these tournaments are good, the nice they do for the native charities that convey all of the volunteers, and I’m so happy with every one. Thanks all, and that’s the principle motive we do that. Admire it.