Bernhard Langer dominates U.S. Senior Open in record-setting performance

Bernhard Langer might be 65 years old, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

Langer, a two-time Masters champ, won the U.S. Senior Open on Sunday, finishing two strokes ahead of runner-up Steve Stricker. His final-round 70 featured five birdies and four bogeys at SentryWorld Golf Course, earning Langer his record 46th PGA Tour Champions title.

“I did very well and was able to block it out and try to stay in the present,” Langer said. “I really felt at peace today, which we don’t always do.”

The win is also Langer’s 12th senior major title, another record for Champions players.

Langer began the day with a two-stroke lead over Jerry Kelly, but he quickly extended his margin with birdies on the first two holes. He added two more birdies (and one bogey) over the remainder of the front nine, and added another circle to the card on the 10th hole.

By this point, the rout was on.

Langer limped home with bogeys on his final three holes, but with the margin he’d built, there was little doubt in the outcome.

Stricker — a Wisconsin native playing in his home state — struggled for much of the front nine and dropped as far back as seven strokes by mid-round. He battled back with four birdies on the back nine to cut the into the lead, but without any major mistakes from Langer, his bid for a second U.S. Senior Open title came up just short.

“[I] found a nice rhythm on the back side and made some birdies, hit some nice shots,” Stricker said. “But a little bit of too little, too late.”

Langer, already the oldest winner in Champions history, reset the record with his victory at 65 years and 10 months old. His win comes 13 years after his first U.S. Senior Open title.

“I still enjoy the game,” Langer said. “If I play like I did this week, I’m going to keep playing.”

If he does keep playing, there’s little reason to doubt that there will be more records broken.