PGA Tour Champions history could be made by Bernhard Langer at the Hoag Classic in Newport Beach.
Langer, who is committed to play in the Hoag Classic to be hosted March 17-19 at Newport Beach Country Club, tied Hale Irwin for the all-time lead in Champions Tour wins at 45, after capturing the Chubb Classic in Naples, Fla. on Feb. 19.
Irwin and Langer are both World Golf Hall of Famers and past winners of the Hoag Classic. With his next title, Langer will break the record for tour wins. He’s scheduled to play this weekend at the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Ariz.
The Hoag Classic follows Tucson on the tour slate and the par-71, 6,601-yard layout at Newport Beach is an ideal fit for the 65-year-old Langer, who won Orange County’s only PGA Tour stop in 2008, then known as the Toshiba Classic. At the time, it was Langer’s second victory on the Champions Tour.
Langer, from Germany, has won a record 11 senior major championships, been the money leader in a record 11 seasons and a record seven times in a row. A two-time Masters champion, Langer is one of five golfers who have won professional events on all six continents golf is played.
At Naples, Langer shot his age in the final round and lower than his age with a 64 in the first round. It was the seventh time he has shot his age or better in his senior career (50 and older).
“It’s very gratifying, and I know there are only certain courses I think where I can win,” said Langer, the oldest winner in tour history. “There are some courses where I have a hard time because of lack of distance. Let’s face it, I’m not hitting it as far as these 50- or 52-year-olds, and there are some courses where the bombers have such a big advantage and I have a hard time. But on a golf course like (Naples) that’s very tight and not too long, I have a chance.”
Newport Beach is one of the shortest courses on the Champions Tour and has long been considered a favorite among players.
In addition to Langer, defending…
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