Bernhard Langer is, without doubt, one of the greatest golfers to have ever played the sport, with two majors and 12 senior majors to his name.
Born in Anhausen, Germany in 1957, Langer would turn professional just 15 years later, and although it would take him a few years before he secured his maiden European Tour title, they would soon start coming thick and fast. From his first European Tour win in 1980, Langer then secured at least one win every year (on one of the leading tours) through to 1997. Those victories included two major championships. He won the Masters Tournament in 1985, before putting on the Green Jacket once again eight years later. He was named the European Tour’s Golf of the Year in both of those years as well.
After turning 50, Langer has gone on to dominate the PGA Tour Champions, becoming the tour’s winningest player ever with 47 victories. Those have included wins at all five majors, with the German being one of just two players to have completed the Senior Grand Slam. He has won the Senior Open Championship on four occasions, with three wins at the Kaulig Companies Championship. He also has a pair of victories at both the Regions Tradition and US Senior Open, along with a solitary win at the Senior PGA Championship.
On the team front, Langer played for the European team in the Ryder Cup on ten occasions, with his first appearance coming in 1981, his last in 2002. Europe won half of those meetings, and he then went on to captain the winning European side in the 2004 edition of the competition at Oakland Hills. For Germany, he won the World Cup of Golf twice, including a victory alongside Marcel Siem when the tournament was a World Golf Championships event in 2006.
Bernhard Langer | Legends Profile
Personal Information
Name: Bernhard Langer
Born: August 27, 1957
Nationality: Germany
Residence: Anhausen, Germany / Boca Raton, Florida, United States
Advertisement
Career
Turned Pro: 1972
Professional Wins: 124
Highest World Ranking: 1 – April 6, 1986
Best Results In Majors
Best Finishes:
– Masters Tournament – WON (1985, 1993)
– PGA Championship – T21 (1987)
– US Open – T4 (1987)
– Open Championship – 2nd/T2 (1981, 1984)
Senior Majors:
– Regions Tradition – WON (2016, 2017)
– Senior PGA Championship – WON (2017)
– US Senior Open – WON (2010, 2023)
– Kaulig Companies Championship – WON (2014, 2015, 2016)
– Senior Open Championship – WON (2010, 2014, 2017, 2019)
Professional Wins – 126
1975 (1) – German National Open Championship
1977 (1) – German National Open Championship
1979 (3) – German National Open Championship, German PGA Championship, Cacharel World Under-25 Championship
1980 (2) – Dunlop Masters, Colombian Open
1981 (3) – BCA Tournament, German Open, Bob Hope British Classic
1982 (1) – Lufthansa German Open
1983 (5) – Italian Open, Glasgow Golf Classic, St Mellion Timeshare TPC, Casio World Open, Johnnie Walker Trophy
1984 (5) – Peugeot Open de France, KLM Dutch Open, Carroll’s Irish Open, Benson & Hedges Spanish Open, German National Open Championship
1985 (7) – Australian Masters, Masters Tournament, Sea Pines Heritage, Lufthansa German Open, Panasonic European Open, German National Open Championship, Nedbank Million Dollar Challenge
1986 (3) – German Open, Trophee Lancome, German National Open Championship
1987 (3) – Whyte & Mackay PGA Championship, Carroll’s Irish Open, German National Open Championship
1988 (2) – Epson Grand Prix of Europe Matchplay Championship, German National Open Championship
1989 (3) – Peugeot Spanish Open, German Masters, German National Open Championship
1990 (4) – Cepsa Madrid Open, Austrian Open, German National Open Championship, World Cup
1991 (5) – Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong Open, Benson & Hedges International Open, Mercedes German Masters, German National Open Championship, Nedbank Million Dollar Challenge
1992 (3) – Heineken Dutch Open, Honda Open, German National Open Championship
1993 (4) – Masters Tournament, Volvo PGA Championship, Volvo German Open, World Cup of Golf Individual Trophy
1994 (2) – Murphy’s Irish Open, Volvo Masters
1995 (3) – Volvo PGA Championship, Deutsche Bank Open TPC of Europe, Smurfit European Open
1996 (1) – Alfred Dunhill Masters
1997 (5) – Conte of Florence Italian Open, Benson & Hedges International Open, Chemapol Trophy Czech Open, Linde German Masters, Argentine Masters
2001 (2) – TNT Dutch Open, Linde German Masters
2002 (1) – Volvo Masters Andalucia
2005 (1) – MBNA WorldPoints Father/Son Challenge
2006 (2) – Del Webb Father/Son Challenge, WGC-World Cup of Golf
2012 (1) – Nedbank Champions Challenge
2014 (1) – PNC Father-Son Challenge
2019 (1) – PNC Father-Son Challenge
2023 (1) – PNC Championship
Advertisement
PGA Tour Champions / European Legends Tour:
2007 (1) – Administaff Small Business Classic
2008 (4) – Toshiba Classic, Ginn Championship Hammock Beach Resort, Casa Serena Open, Administaff Small Business Classic
2009 (4) – Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, Triton Financial Classic, 3M Championship
2010 (5) – Allianz Championship, Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, Senior Open Championship, US Senior Open, Boeing Classic
2011 (1) – ACE Group Classic
2012 (2) – 3M Championship, SAS Championship
2013 (2) – ACE Group Classic, Greater Gwinnett Championship
2014 (5) – Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, Insperity Invitational, Constellation Senior Players Championship, Senior Open Championship, Dick’s Sporting Goods Open
2015 (2) – Constellation Senior Players Championship, San Antonio Championship
2016 (4) – Chubb Classic, Regions Tradition, Constellation Senior Players Championship, Boeing Classic
2017 (7) – Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, Regions Tradition, KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, Senior Open Championship, PURE Insurance Championship, Dominion Charity Classic, PowerShares QQQ Championship
2018 (2) – Insperity Invitational, SAS Championship
2019 (2) – Oasis Championship, Senior Open Championship
2020 (1) – Cologuard Classic
2021 (1) – Dominion Charity Classic
2022 (2) – Chubb Classic, TimberTech Championship
2023 (2) – Chubb Classic, US Senior Open
2024 (1) – Charles Schwab Cup Championship
2025 (1) – WINSTONgolf Senior Open
Achievements and Awards
European Tour Order of Merit Winner – 1981, 1984
European Tour Golfer of the Year – 1985, 1993
World Golf Hall of Fame – 2001
PGA Tour Champions Rookie of the Year – 2008
PGA Tour Champions Money List Winner – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020–21
PGA Tour Champions Player of the Year – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020–21
PGA Tour Champions Byron Nelson Award – 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
PGA Tour Champions Charles Schwab Cup Winner – 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020–21
Payne Stewart Award 2018
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Bernhard Langer
When and where was Bernhard Langer born?
Bernhard Langer was born in Anhausen, Germany in August 1957, and began playing the game at a very young age.
When did Bernhard Langer turn professional?
Bernhard Langer turned professional in 1972, at the age of just 15, and he would go on to have one of the greatest careers that any European golfer has ever had.
How many major titles did Bernhard Langer win?
Langer won two majors – being victorious at the Masters Tournament in both 1985 and 1993. He has since gone on to win 12 senior majors, including becoming a four-time winner of the Senior Open Championship.
Who is Bernhard Langer dating/married to?
Bernhard Langer is married to Vikki Carol, with the pair having been married for four decades, after getting wed in 1984. They have four children – Jackie, Stefan, Christina, and Jason. Langer has won the PNC Championship alongside both Stefan and Jason over the last two decades.
Advertisement
Did you Know?
First Ever Number One
When the inaugural Sony Rankings (now Official World Golf Rankings) were founded in 1986, Langer was the first man to ever sit at the summit.
Wins On Six Continents
Langer is one of just five players who have secured victories in all six continents where professional golf is played (Europe, Asia, North American, South America, Africa, Oceania).
Tour Champions Boss
Since turning 50, Langer has been the man to beat on the PGA Tour Champions. He has the Senior Grand Slam (being one of only two people to have achieved the feat) as part of 12 senior major championships. He is also the winningest player in PGA Tour Champions history, along with being the money leader on 11 occasions.
Ryder Cup Legend
Langer is one of only five European players to have featured in ten or more Ryder Cups. His first appearance came in 1981, with his last coming in 2002. Two years later, he was the European team captain as they destroyed the Americans at Oakland Hills, winning 18.5-9.5.
Other Bernhard Langer Articles
‘I lived my dream for 50 years’: Langer’s tearful goodbye was the moment of 2024
Bernhard Langer will make final Masters appearance in 2024
The course where legends have walked – and Langer climbed a tree
Just how good has Bernhard Langer been throughout his career, both before and after his transition to the senior circuit? Let us know your thoughts on the German with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
Advertisement