KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii » Bernhard Langer walked off the 18th tee all smiles, despite the searing heat and thick, white vog that enveloped the Kona coast on this sultry Thursday afternoon.
The defending champion of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai had just put the finishing touches on his pro-am round at the 18-hole layout that Jack Nicklaus built.
You could tell the German was making himself right at home prior to the start of the 2015 Champions Tour season, even though the European’s true country was a half a world away.
So, how do you feel Mr. Schwab Cup winner and 2014 senior tour player of the year? One word slipped out from his deep baritone voice.
"Awesome," Langer said, then paused for effect. "It’s always great to be back. This is my favorite tournament of the year and it’s wonderful to be here again. The course is excellent, really good. Got here, played Monday and it looked better than even last year Monday. They’ve done a great job."
They may have, but the course managers would be hard pressed to match the season Langer had as a 57-year-old, who looks like he’s in the prime of his life. He won five times last year, including two majors, to run his Champions Tour total to an impressive 23 victories, including twice at Hualalai.
Even coming off a two-month layoff, one that included a victory at the Father-Son Challenge in mid-December with 14-year-old Jason by his side, Langer said he’s fit for duty and hopes to play in as many as 20 Champions Tour events as long as he remains healthy.
He and 39 golfers in the 50-and-older crowd will tee it up Friday in this winners-only tournament that features a purse of $1.8 million. In 2014, Langer broke from the pack with five birdies over the closing six holes to beat Jeff Sluman and Fred Couples by three shots.
His 22-under-par 194 was the best 54-hole score on the senior circuit since Rocco Mediate shot 22 under to win the inaugural 2013 Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary and the best at Hualalai since John Cook turned the 22-under trick in 2011. By comparison, Loren Roberts’ 25-under 191 is the tournament record set in 2006.
So, Bernhard, what’s the secret to winning here?
"Lots of birdies and a few eagles, ideally," Langher said, then smiled. "And hopefully no bogeys or very few. It’s a course that when the wind is down, you gotta go low. If the wind blows then it becomes a little more of a challenge. We don’t know. It’s a strong field with a lot of great players here, so, somebody will go low more than somebody (else)."
Langer is not alone when it comes to 8-under rounds. There are seven other World Golf Hall of Fame members swinging the clubs in Friday’s opening 18 holes, along with Couples, Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Price, Curtis Strange and Tom Watson.
Of that elite group, Langer, Couples and Montgomerie are playing the best golf, these days. Four other golfers have already teed it up at the Waialae Country Club, including Kenny Perry, the only one of that set to make the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii last week. The other three — Fred Funk, Davis Love III and Paul Goydos — didn’t make the cut, but have two competitive rounds already in their golf bags.
As far as Langer is concerned, bring them on. He likes his chances on this beautiful green tract laid out in the middle of a lava field. Langer also won here in 2009 and knows what it takes to hold the trophy on Sunday and pocket the $309,000 first-place check.
"Confidence is very important in golf and most sports," Langer said. "If you get off to a good start here it gives you some confidence. If you don’t, then you’re going to have to earn it somewhere else. It always helps to get a little head-start. It’s such a beautiful week here whether you play great or just average. It’s just fun being here."
There are seven first-timers in the field, including Love, Goydos, 2014 rookie of the year Scott Dunlop and Miguel Angel Jimenez. It’s a good mix of old and new.
"I know I’m looking forward to it," said Perry, who is playing here for his fourth time. "It always helps to shake the rust off and I had a good finish at Sony (tie for 37th). I love the golf course, but you’d better have the mind-set of going low or you’ll be left at the gate."
