1 week Ago By Palm Beach Daily News
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bernhard Langer was one inch from making history.The legendary German golfer's 12-foot par putt that would have put him above the cut line in his final Masters burned the right edge of the cup, leaving him with a tap-in bogey.
Langer, the longtime Boca Raton resident, settled for 1-over 73 Friday putting him at 3-over for the first two rounds. The cut line was 2-over.That ended an emotionally charged week in which Langer was honored and recognized at every turn.
More: Masters 'Champions Dinner' is one of the 'most special nights we have all year'"It was a very special last two days for me," Langer said. "Even starting off walking to the first tee (Thursday), I got a standing ovation and the people really, you know, applauded. I almost teared up and almost started crying right there, and I said, 'Come on, get it together, you've got some golf to play.
' "Langer appreciated how that adulation continued for 36 holes."There were lots of emotions flooding through my mind the last two days as I was walking down the fairways," Langer said.The 67-year-old Langer, who announced long ago this would be his last Masters, would have become the oldest man to make the cut.
Langer played in 41 Masters, winning in 1985, 1993Langer, the 1985 and 1993 Masters champion, raised his visor and mouthed "thank you" to the cheering crowd after retrieving his final putt at Augusta National from the cup. He then was greeted by his family, including wife, Vikki Carol, four children and two of his grandchildren, and Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley.Masters officials lined up to congratulate Langer as he walked to scoring.
"I just have so many wonderful memories of playing this golf course," said Langer, who hit 93 percent of his fairways, which tied him for first after two rounds.Langer was 2-under after 14 holes Friday and well inside the cut line at even par. But his third shot — a sand wedge from 86 yards — on the par-5 15th hole spun back into the water and he settled for a double-bogey.
Langer said he would do nothing different on that shot."I hit a perfect golf shot, literally, and made seven, which is very annoying," he said. "Otherwise, I would be here this weekend.
"Langer said the ball landed exactly where he wanted."I just couldn't believe the ball had that much spin because I'm hitting off a downhill lie, and I kind of flighted it in there," he said. "I didn't hit it up in the air where the wind would back-shoot it.
"Langer's Masters career ends with 41 starts. He has nine top 10s and he made 27 cuts.One of his favorite memories from Friday will be sinking a 21-foot birdie put on the iconic 12th hole, his 19th birdie on the hole in his career.
He bogeyed the hole for the 28th time Thursday.Having equaled the score of the likes of Dustin Johnson, Keegan Bradley, Russell Henley and Tony Finau; and finishing ahead of Brooks Koepka, Billy Horschel, Cameron Young and Will Zalatoris; Langer was asked if he ever had second thoughts about his decision to make this his final Masters."There were times last couple days when I thought, 'You know, did you make the right decision here, or should you have waited another year or two with your last Masters?' " he said.
"Because I was playing quite well and very smart."But I think looking back, it is still the right decision. It's just the golf course is too long for me.
"Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Bernhard Langer finished 3-over after two rounds of the Masters, missing cut by 1.
