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 | | | | | | Quick Facts | | | Birthdate: 27 August 1957 | | Birthplace: Anhausen, Germany | | | Age: 45 Ht: 5ft 8in (173cm) Wt: 11st 7lb (73kg) | | | Home: Anhausen | | | Country: Germany | | | Turned Professional: 1972 | | | |
| Ryder Cup | | | (9) 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 | | European Tour Victories | | |
(41) 1980 Dunlop Masters; 1981 German Open, Bob Hope British Classic; 1982 Lufthansa German Open; 1983 Italian Open, Glasgow Golf Classic, St. Mellion Timeshare TPC; 1984 Peugeot Open de France, KLM Dutch Open, Carrolls Irish Open, Benson & Hedges Spanish Open; 1985 Lufthansa German Open, Panasonic European Open; 1986 German Open, Lancome Trophee; 1987 Whyte & Mackay PGA Championship, Carrolls Irish Open; 1988 Epson Grand Prix of Europe; 1989 Peugeot Open de España, German Masters; 1990 Cepsa Madrid Open, Austrian Open; 1991 Benson and Hedges International Open, Mercedes German Masters; 1992 Heineken Dutch Open, Honda Open; 1993 Volvo PGA Championship, Volvo German Open; 1994 Murphy's Irish Open, Volvo Masters; 1995 Volvo PGA Championship, Deutsche Bank Open - TPC of Europe, Smurfit European Open; 1997 Conte of Florence Italian Open, Benson and Hedges International Open, Chemapol Trophy Czech Open, Linde German Masters; 2001 TNT Open, Linde German Masters
| | Player Notes | |
Bernhard Langer's ability to turn adversity into triumph has never been in question. Time and time again, the German has silenced his detractors by displaying the courage and nerve which have characterised his play over the best part of three decades.
The son of a Czech refugee who escaped from a Russian prisoner of war train bound for Siberia, Langer reached the highest echelons of the game the hard way. Dedication has been his by-word for the best part of the 30 years he has played professional golf since relinquishing his amateur status at the frighteningly early age of 15.
No-one ever dares questions Langer's mental fortitude. As a youngster he was disadvantaged by the fact that golf was a minority sport in his father's adopted country. So much so that while the Ryder Cup held the rest of Europe in its thrall on television, the young Bernhard had a trawl bookstores in his home town of Anhausen in search of a golf magazine to find out who won!
During his spectacular career, Langer has been forced to combat the dreaded putting 'yips' on more than one occasion. Every time he has found the cure and emerged as strong as ever. Six of his 39 European Tour victories have been achieved in tandem with the long broomhandle putter which he mastered with painstaking diligence.
However it is in the thick of Ryder Cup battle than Langer will be forever remembered. Two Masters crowns notwithstanding, his singles confrontation with Hale Irwin must go down in the annals of the contest as one of the most dramatic moments in sport.
The Ryder Cup of 1991 at Kiawah Island hinged on the final singles match on the course, in which Langer trailed Irwin by three holes with five remaining. Ultimately, the German's epic fightback reached a dramatic conclusion as he stood over a six foot par putt on the last green, knowing that to hole it would retain the trophy for Europe, but to miss meant a first US success since 1983.
The ball stayed out and Langer's contorted face and physique displayed the raw pain and emotion of the occasion, even though he had actually secured a half point. A lesser man might have been tempted to throw himself into the frothy ocean close by. Not Langer. He is made of sterner stuff.
Instead, he swallowed his disappointment, and that of the European team, and flew directly to his native Germany, where he not only played subliminally, but went on to capture the Linde German Masters (a tournament he co-promotes) after a play-off.
This year Langer makes his tenth appearance in the Ryder Cup, just one behind Nick Faldo's record. He has played on four winning teams - in 1985, 87, 95 and 97 - and contributed an individual record of 18 wins, 15 loses and five halved matches. Europe will have no more committed individual at The De Vere Belfry.
Background
One of the most remarkably consistent and resilient professionals in golf. Conquered adversity in the form of the putting 'yips' to reach the top, and has hovered in the upper echelons of the game for over 20 years. Since 1980, he has only been outside the top 30 in the Volvo Order of Merit on one occasion in 1996. Czech-born father settled in Bavaria after jumping a Russian prisoner-of-war train bound for Siberia. Took up golf aged seven through caddieing, turned pro at 15. Won 39 times in Europe, the last six with the broom handle putter which he adopted towards end of 1996. Devout Christian, helps organise the regular meetings of the Tour Bible Class. Won his 38th European Tour title, his first in four years, when he took the TNT Open at Noordwijkse in July, beating Warren Bennett in a play-off and followed this by collecting his 11th tournament victory on home soil and 39th European Tour title at the 2001 Linde German Masters.
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| W - L - T | Points | | 3 - 0 - 1 | 3.5 |
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Bernhard Langer
