BRADENTON, Fla. — Bernhard Langer had a double bogey and nonetheless broke his age by two photographs because the 68-year-old German posted a 6-under 66 on Thursday, giving him a share of the lead after the opening spherical of the Senior PGA Championship.
Langer, who already holds the file with 12 senior majors, performed his ultimate six holes in 5 beneath par, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 seventeenth gap at Concession Golf Club.
He was tied with Miguel Angel Jiménez, Brian Gay and Steve Allan of Australia. Langer now has shot his age or higher 43 instances.
“It’s fun to shoot my age,” he stated. “So whenever I shoot my age or better, usually I’ve played some good golf. That’s one of the goals these days, especially when you play a difficult golf course, and these greens here are very difficult.”
This is the primary yr of a three-year contract for Concession to host the Senior PGA Championship, the oldest of the senior majors. It’s additionally the one senior main Langer has received just one time, in 2017 at Trump National in Virginia.
Jimenez, 62, had an eagle on the par-5 seventh gap and went out in 31 earlier than cooling on the again 9. Allan performed bogey-free, choosing up birdies on all however one of many par-5s. Gay birdied three of his ultimate 4 holes.
They have been one shot forward of Ben Crane, Retief Goosen and Thammanoon Sriroj, the 56-year-old Thai who had 5 wins on the Asian Tour. Crane is making his senior main debut having turned 50 final month.
Two-time Masters champion José María Olazábal, three-time main champion Padraig Harrington and Greg Chalmers have been at 68.
Henrik Stenson additionally made his senior debut — he turned 50 on April 5 — and opened with a 72. Stenson, the 2016 British Open champion, had been on Saudi-funded LIV Golf since 2022 however was relegated from the league final fall.
He isn’t eligible for PGA Tour Champions occasions till one yr after his final LIV look, however this main is run by the PGA of America.
Langer’s spherical was a foot away from being even higher. But his 6-iron to the eleventh inexperienced narrowly missed, leaving him a downhill lie in a bunker to a brief pin. Trying to open the blade, he despatched it screaming throughout the inexperienced towards a cart path. He chipped to 12 ft and missed the putt.
But he made up for it on the seventeenth, hitting a 3-iron hybrid after which holing a 60-foot eagle putt.
“If I would putt like that the rest of my career, I would be extremely happy,” Langer stated.
