AUGUSTA, GEORGIA | Until the end, 67-year-old Bernhard Langer believed he had just a little more golf at the Masters left in him.
A closing bogey kept Langer from making the cut in his 41st and final Masters but the feelings and memories from his last competitive appearance at Augusta National will stay with him.
“I just have so many wonderful memories of playing this golf course. I fell in love with it immediately when I played my first round here, and was fortunate to win twice, and come back here for many, many years. Very special.”
Langer had his youngest son, Jason, caddying for him and he had previously announced this would be his final Masters. He had originally planned to make 2024 his final appearance but a torn Achilles forced him to delay it until this year.
He admitted there were moments last week when he briefly reconsidered making this his goodbye but the length of the course convinced Langer to stick with his decision.
Asked how he hopes to be remembered by the patrons, Langer was philosophical.
“Hopefully as a good golfer. But hopefully also a man of faith and a man of family and somebody that treated people well and was a good role model,” Langer said.
At age 65, Fred Couples became just the second player of his age or older to break par in the Masters, joining Tom Watson, when he opened with a 1-under-par 71 on Thursday. Couples hung inside the cut line much of Friday but ultimately missed by two strokes, shooting 77 in the second round.
Couples plans to play the Masters next year but has not decided beyond that. The club informed him earlier this year that there is no age limit on how long he can continue to compete.
“I'm playing next year for sure,” Couples said. “They made that clear they wanted me to come back, so I’m coming back next year.
“I just love the place. I love coming here.”
Ron Green Jr.