Bernhard Langer wearing the Green Bay Packers “Cheesehead” (my favorite team) after winning the U.S. Senior Open in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. July 2, 2023
Bernhard Langer had a legendary professional golf career before the age of 50. He won two Masters championships and won 42 times on the European Tour, which is the second most all time behind Seve Ballesteros. He is one of five golfers to have won on the six inhabited continents, became the first official world number one golfer, and has participated in 11 Ryder Cups as either a player or captain. This resume would satisfy almost anyone. Most professional golfers with that much success don’t play too many events on the PGA Champions Tour. This tour is for professional golfers over the age of 50 who still need to make money. Contrary to popular belief, most professional golfers aren’t loaded with money. Even though Mr. Langer could have called it quits, he still had the drive to compete and get better. It turns out this incredible resume was not finished.
With his recent win in Wisconsin, Bernhard Langer passed Hale Irwin for most wins on the PGA Champions Tour, winning 46 times on the Champions Tour over the span of 15 years. He has earned the most money 11 of those years since turning 50. He was the oldest player to make the cut at the Masters until Fred Couples beat him by a few days this year. I could write a whole post titled “The Accolades of Bernhard Langer”, but that’s not what this is going to be about. I’m going to look at a few ways Mr. Langer has continued to be dominant at age 65 and how I can use his success as inspiration as I begin my professional career.
1. He has maintained a solid base consistently
Life is crazy for a normal person. For famous professional athletes, it is even crazier. There are many things that are unpredictable that could change lives instantly. I think it is essential to have a solid foundation of faith and family to always come back to when times are rough. Bernhard Langer has been married to his wife for nearly forty years, and they have raised four children. He credits them for helping him get through a four year winless drought in the late 90’s. He has also stressed the importance of his faith. Langer became a born-again Christian in the late 80’s and has become a regular at the Tour’s weekly Bible studies. Faith and family have made him remember that despite all the success, there is something much bigger than individual glory.
Like I previously said, I was raised as a Protestant Christian and attended Christian school from 5th grade until I graduated from high school. I disagreed with a number of social issues they tried to indoctrinate students into believing. I am in the healing process with myself and am trying to learn how to have a healthy view of religion to better myself. I have started studying the Bible from a more modern perspective, and I have found it to be refreshing and feel this has begun to help me in difficult ethical situations. My immediate family has been awesome! They have always supported me when I have been successful and when I have failed. I cannot thank them enough for that. Families can be complex. I need to really focus on having grace for them, because they have shown me endless grace over 23 years. I also have two great grandparents who I need to show the same love too. This support system will continue to help me over my career just like Bernhard Langer!
2. When challenges arrive, he stayed open to ugly solutions
In the 1991 Ryder Cup, Bernhard Langer missed the winning putt on the 18th hole in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Had he made it, Europe would have won their fourth Ryder Cup in a row. This became a stretch where Bernhard struggled with the “yips.” “Yips” are when golfers struggle with a little twitch in their dominant hand while putting. This happens to a lot of pro golfers, and some never are able to recover from a severe case. Bernhard looked at typical solutions like changing his putting grip and swapping putters. Eventually, he started using a “broomstick” style putter. This is not a standard looking putter, and some even call it ugly. However, he began to putt much better, and you can’t argue with success when done the right way.
Berhard Langer using his “broomstick” putter
There are going to be times in my career where solutions will not be found inside the box. I need to be aware of ideas that are not conventional. Some of these ideas will not always be popular. I may need to be comfortable not pleasing people if the solutions are effective. It will also be important to stay humble and learn from failure when new ideas don’t workout. I will also need to remember that as long as the solution is effective and ethical, it does not matter if it is ugly!
If there is a will, there is a way
Golf in the 60’s and 70’s was not popular in West Germany. Bernhard Langer fell in love with the game when most friends and family were more familiar with other sports like soccer. He didn’t conform to what others around him liked. He had a love for golf paired with natural talent, and that took him to where he is today!
My double major in accounting and marketing is not common. I have found I am good at different areas in both fields. I was told by my advisor at the University of Tampa to only pursue one major. I listened respectfully, but I know myself best. I am going to leverage myself to the best of my abilities with my unique skillset and plan to use it for as long as Bernhard Langer has been winning golf tournaments!
Bernhard Langer is one of the athletes I have the most respect for and have taught me the most without ever meeting him. People inside and outside of the golf world find his success at this point unbelievable. I have attached another article that discusses Bernhard’s unique childhood. It takes approximately 3 minutes to read.
https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/14/golf/bernhard-langer-open-golf/index.html