Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Bernhard Langer

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Bernhard Langer made an impact.

Bernhard Langer is a highly accomplished German professional golfer renowned for his success in the 1980s and 1990s. A two-time Masters champion, he achieved the distinction of becoming the world's first number-one ranked player in 1986 following the establishment of the Sony Ranking. He is regarded as one of golf's greats.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1972: Turned Professional

In 1972, Bernhard Langer turned professional as a golfer.

1981: Runner-up at The Open Championship

In 1981, Bernhard Langer finished as runner-up at The Open Championship.

1981: Played on Ryder Cup Team

In 1981, Bernhard Langer played on his first Ryder Cup team.

1983: Played on Ryder Cup Team

In 1983, Bernhard Langer played on the Ryder Cup team.

1984: Arnold Palmer won Constellation Senior Players Championship

In 1984, Arnold Palmer won the Constellation Senior Players Championship

1984: Runner-up at The Open Championship

In 1984, Bernhard Langer finished as runner-up at The Open Championship.

1985: Won the 1985 Masters Tournament

In 1985, Bernhard Langer achieved his first major championship win at the Masters Tournament, winning by two strokes over runners-up Seve Ballesteros, Raymond Floyd, and Curtis Strange.

1985: Won The Masters

In 1985, Bernhard Langer won The Masters Tournament.

1986: Shared Trophée Lancôme

In 1986, Ballesteros and Langer agreed to share the Trophée Lancôme after failing light caused play to halt after four holes of a playoff.

1986: Became World Number One

In 1986, Bernhard Langer became the sport's first number one ranked player following the creation of the Sony Ranking, now known as the Official World Golf Ranking.

1987: Played on Ryder Cup Team

In 1987, Bernhard Langer played on the Ryder Cup team.

1989: Played on Ryder Cup Team

In 1989, Bernhard Langer played on the Ryder Cup team.

1991: Played on Ryder Cup Team

In 1991, Bernhard Langer played on the Ryder Cup team.

1991: Missed Putt at the Ryder Cup

In the 1991 Ryder Cup, Bernhard Langer missed a five-foot putt that would have tied the Ryder Cup and allowed the European team to retain the trophy.

1993: Won the 1993 Masters Tournament

In 1993, Bernhard Langer secured his second major championship at the Masters Tournament, achieving a four-shot victory over Chip Beck.

1993: Won The Masters

In 1993, Bernhard Langer won The Masters Tournament for the second time.

1995: Played on Ryder Cup Team

In 1995, Bernhard Langer played on the Ryder Cup team.

1997: Played on Ryder Cup Team

In 1997, Bernhard Langer played on the Ryder Cup team.

2000: Played Regularly on the U.S.-based PGA Tour

Since 2000, Bernhard Langer has played regularly on the U.S.-based PGA Tour.

2002: Shared Volvo Masters Andalucía

In 2002, Langer and Montgomerie agreed to share the Volvo Masters Andalucía after failing light caused play to halt after two holes of a playoff.

2004: Non-Playing Captain of Ryder Cup Team

In 2004, Bernhard Langer was the non-playing captain of the victorious European Ryder Cup team.

2010: Won Senior Open Championship and U.S. Senior Open

In 2010, Bernhard Langer won the Senior Open Championship and the U.S. Senior Open.

2014: Won Senior Open Championship and Constellation Senior Players Championship

In 2014, Bernhard Langer won the Senior Open Championship and the Constellation Senior Players Championship.

2015: Won Constellation Senior Players Championship

In 2015, Bernhard Langer became the first player since Arnold Palmer (1984–85) to win the Constellation Senior Players Championship in back-to-back years.

January 2016: USGA Banned Anchoring Long Putter

On 1 January 2016, the USGA banned anchoring the long putter, a technique which Bernhard Langer used.

2016: Claimed the Regions Tradition Title

In 2016, Bernhard Langer claimed the Regions Tradition title for his sixth senior major championship, winning by a six-stroke margin over Olin Browne. This marked his 100th professional win, making him only the second golfer, after Jack Nicklaus, with wins in four different senior major championships. He also became the first three-time winner of the Constellation Senior Players Championship, winning it for the third straight year. In November 2016, he won his fourth Charles Schwab Cup.

2016: Won Regions Tradition and Constellation Senior Players Championship

In 2016, Bernhard Langer won the Regions Tradition and the Constellation Senior Players Championship.

2017: Won Senior Open Championship, Regions Tradition, and Senior PGA Championship

In 2017, Bernhard Langer won the Senior Open Championship, the Regions Tradition, and the Senior PGA Championship.

2017: Won Three Senior Majors, Criticized Schwab Cup Playoff

In 2017, Bernhard Langer won three more senior majors to become the most decorated player in the senior ranks of all time. However, he did not win the season-ending Schwab Cup, and subsequently called the playoff process 'unfair'.

2017: Completed a Career Grand Slam

In 2017, Bernhard Langer's capture of the Senior PGA Championship completed a career Grand Slam.

November 2018: Won Fifth Charles Schwab Cup

In November 2018, Bernhard Langer won his fifth Charles Schwab Cup, bringing his lifetime earnings in the Charles Schwab Cup to $7,000,000.

July 2019: Won Fourth Senior Open Championship

In July 2019, Bernhard Langer won his fourth Senior Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, marking his eleventh victory in a senior major championship.

2019: Won Senior Open Championship

In 2019, Bernhard Langer won the Senior Open Championship.

March 2020: Won the Cologuard Classic

In March 2020, Bernhard Langer won the Cologuard Classic for his 41st victory on the PGA Tour Champions.

2020: Results not in chronological order

In 2020, Langer's results were not listed in chronological order.

2020: Oldest Player to Make the Cut at the Masters

In 2020, at the age of 63, Bernhard Langer became the oldest player in Masters history to make the tournament cut.

2020: Combined Season Charles Schwab Cup

In November 2021, Bernhard Langer won his sixth Charles Schwab Cup for the combined 2020–21 season. The Cup was awarded for play over two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 2021: Won Dominion Energy Charity Classic

In October 2021, Bernhard Langer won the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in a playoff over Doug Barron, becoming the oldest man to win a PGA Tour Champions event at 64 years, 1 month and 27 days.

November 2021: Won Sixth Charles Schwab Cup

In November 2021, Bernhard Langer won his sixth Charles Schwab Cup for the combined 2020–21 season.

2021: Career Earnings

In 2021, Bernhard Langer's total career earnings through 2021 on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions were more than US$42 million.

February 2022: Won Fourth Chubb Classic

In February 2022, Bernhard Langer won the Chubb Classic for the fourth time. At 64 years, 5 months, 23 days he broke his own record for oldest winner on the PGA Tour Champions and won for the 16th straight season.

November 2022: Won Third TimberTech Championship

In November 2022, Bernhard Langer won the TimberTech Championship for the third time. This was his first win as a 65-year-old and his 44th win on PGA Tour Champions.

February 2023: Defended Title at Chubb Classic

In February 2023, Bernhard Langer successfully defended his title at the Chubb Classic, marking his 45th win on the PGA Tour Champions, tying him with Hale Irwin. He birdied five of his last seven holes in the final round to shoot 65 and earn a three-stroke victory.

July 2023: Won U.S. Senior Open

In July 2023, Bernhard Langer won the U.S. Senior Open by two strokes over Steve Stricker at SentryWorld in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. This win put him ahead of Hale Irwin with a record 46 career titles on the PGA Tour Champions.

2023: Won U.S. Senior Open

In 2023, Bernhard Langer won the U.S. Senior Open.

November 2024: Won Charles Schwab Cup Championship

In November 2024, Bernhard Langer won the Charles Schwab Cup Championship by one stroke over Steven Alker and Richard Green, also extending his age record and most wins on PGA Tour Champions.