BERNHARD LANGER has continued his dominance of the US Champions Tour with his third straight Schwab Cup win, the tour’s season long championship trophy.
The over 50’s tour for the first time had a three event playoff series – very similar to the FedEx Cup on the main tour – and even though the 59 year old German couldn’t play in the opening tournament his second in the final event on the weekend was enough for him to take the title, and the US$1 million jackpot annuity.
Langer shot a final round 6-under 64 at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Scottsdale, Arizona, to finish outright second, two strokes behind winner Paul Goydos (66) with Colin Montgomerie (68) a further two back.
Langer won four times during the year and also pocketed US$3,016,959. In 21 tournaments his worst finish was a tie for 13th.
“The guy’s a super hero. I don’t get it,” said Goydos (pictured above left) after what was his second victory of the year and fourth overall. “Seems like he should get older. … I mean, he’s getting better. It’s his best year and he’s 59. He’s amazing.”
Goydos went wire to wire to win the event at Desert Mountain’s Cochise Course. He earned US$440,000 in the process.
“You start out and really, the best place you could be is way ahead, especially with Montgomerie and Langer,” said Goydos, who won twice on the US PGA TOUR and shot a 59 in the 2010 John Deere Classic. “……These guys are Hall of Famers.”
Langer was more than happy with his season.
“It’s incredible,” he said. “Finishing all the tournaments throughout the year in the top 13, it’s extremely tough to do. So it’s difficult to put it all into words, how consistent it’s been, how good it’s been, but very blessed, very fortunate.”