If history repeats itself at the Cologuard Classic by Exact Sciences, then making history bodes well for Bernhard Langer.
The 2020 Cologuard Classic champion returns to Tucson’s PGA Tour Champions event — which tees off Friday at Omni Tucson National — on the heels of winning his second straight Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida, tying Hale Irwin for most wins (45) on the premiere senior golf tour.
“When I first came out I thought, well, that record will not be broken. But sooner or later, all records are broken,” Langer, 65, said. “I (am) very fortunate to have had a wonderful career so far on this tour, and (I’m) hoping to continue for a few more years.”
The record for most tournament wins on the Champions Tour became realistic for Langer “probably three or four years ago.”
“When I had a season where I won seven times,” he said, referring to 2017. “It became more and more clear that if I stay healthy in a few more years I might have a chance to catch Hale or even surpass him. Well, it took me this long, until 65, but I’m glad to be here.”
Here’s another perspective on Langer’s unprecedented dominance on the Champions Tour: Fellow 60-plus-year-olds Fred Couples (63) and Jay Haas (69) have combined for 32 total wins. Steve Stricker would have to win an average of three or four tournaments over nine seasons to catch up to Langer.
After winning The Senior Open Championship just before his 60th birthday, Langer has won 12 tournaments, including the Cologuard Classic. That total represents nearly a third of all wins (38) by players 60 and older.
Langer, who has already shot his age or better twice this season, has a 16-year window from his first win on the Champions Tour to his most recent. That has come on the heels of him collecting 45 combined wins on the PGA and European tours, including two Masters. Langer is also the oldest winner in PGA Tour Champions history.
“I didn’t think I would have this type of success on this tour,” Langer said. “I was hoping when I turned 50 and decided to play on the PGA Tour Champions to be one of the top five or 10 guys out here and win some tournaments, win a few majors. That was the goal.”
