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BRADENTON – Bernhard Langer, the 68-year-old golf legend from Germany and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, fired a 6-under par 66 on Thursday, April 15, to earn a share of the lead after the first round of the 86th Senior PGA Championship.
Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, known for his trademark gray ponytail and ever-present cigar, and Stephen Allan of Australia also shot 66 at The Concession Golf Club to create a three-way tie at the top.
“Whenever you shoot your age or better, you know you are playing well,” said Langer, whose 47 victories on the PGA’s senior circuit is the all-time best. “There is a fine line between playing great and mediocre on this course.”
Langer nailed a monster 65-foot putt for an eagle on the par-5 17th hole. It helped make up for a double bogey on the par-3 11th hole.
“If I could putt this way the rest of my career, I would be happy,” Langer said. “I tried to get fancy (on No. 11) and opened the blade. I hit it over the green.”
More: Steve Alker favored to win Senior PGA Championship at The Concession
Langer owns a staggering 126 professional victories and has been the senior money leader 12 times. He’s only one of five golfers to win professional titles on the six continents where golf is played and won 1985 and 1993 Masters Tournaments.
Another World Golf Hall of Fame member, Retief Goosen of South Africa, is one shot back after shooting a 67 and is in a 4-way tie for second place. He is joined by Ben Crane, 50, of Portland, Ore., Thammanoon Sriroj, 56, of Thailand, and 54-year-old Brian Gay Fort Worth, Texas.
“I’ll take 5-under par any day,” said Goosen, who won the U.S Open in 2001 and 2004. “I’m happy with it.
“I played the par 3s and par 5s nicely. The par 3s and par 5s served me well today.”
Goosen, 57, was ranked in the world’s Top 10 for 250 weeks between 2001 and 2007. He has won 40 professional tournaments, including seven PG Tour titles. He transitioned to the PGA Tour Champions in 2019.
“It’s interesting to play the same guys you beat 20 or 30 years ago,” Goosen said. “Today was a good day to score.”
Jose Maria Olazabal gave credit to his putter for his 4-under round of 68 in Thursday’s first round. He is tied with Australian Greg Chalmers and Irishman Padraig Harrington at two strokes off the pace.
“I putted extremely well today,” said the 60-year-old Olazabal, who won the Masters in 1994 and 1999. “It was good putting more than anything else.
“The rest of my game was not as sharp as it needed to be. I was missing my irons to the left. I just hung in there on the back nine.”
Olazabal, who lives in the Basque Country in Spain, owns six PGA Tour titles and 30 professional wins.
At three shots back, there is an 11-player logjam at 3-under par.
Thursday was a nightmare on the course for defending Senior PGA champion Angel Cabrera. The 56-year-old from Argentina shot a 9-over 81 and is tied for 153rd place.
Play in the second round at The Concession Golf Club begins on Friday at 7:30 a.m.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: The 86th annual Senior PGA Championship has a three-way tie after round 1
Continue reading...
Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, known for his trademark gray ponytail and ever-present cigar, and Stephen Allan of Australia also shot 66 at The Concession Golf Club to create a three-way tie at the top.
“Whenever you shoot your age or better, you know you are playing well,” said Langer, whose 47 victories on the PGA’s senior circuit is the all-time best. “There is a fine line between playing great and mediocre on this course.”
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Langer nailed a monster 65-foot putt for an eagle on the par-5 17th hole. It helped make up for a double bogey on the par-3 11th hole.
“If I could putt this way the rest of my career, I would be happy,” Langer said. “I tried to get fancy (on No. 11) and opened the blade. I hit it over the green.”
More: Steve Alker favored to win Senior PGA Championship at The Concession
Langer owns a staggering 126 professional victories and has been the senior money leader 12 times. He’s only one of five golfers to win professional titles on the six continents where golf is played and won 1985 and 1993 Masters Tournaments.
Another World Golf Hall of Fame member, Retief Goosen of South Africa, is one shot back after shooting a 67 and is in a 4-way tie for second place. He is joined by Ben Crane, 50, of Portland, Ore., Thammanoon Sriroj, 56, of Thailand, and 54-year-old Brian Gay Fort Worth, Texas.
“I’ll take 5-under par any day,” said Goosen, who won the U.S Open in 2001 and 2004. “I’m happy with it.
“I played the par 3s and par 5s nicely. The par 3s and par 5s served me well today.”
Goosen, 57, was ranked in the world’s Top 10 for 250 weeks between 2001 and 2007. He has won 40 professional tournaments, including seven PG Tour titles. He transitioned to the PGA Tour Champions in 2019.
“It’s interesting to play the same guys you beat 20 or 30 years ago,” Goosen said. “Today was a good day to score.”
You must be registered for see images
Jose Maria Olazabal gave credit to his putter for his 4-under round of 68 in Thursday’s first round. He is tied with Australian Greg Chalmers and Irishman Padraig Harrington at two strokes off the pace.
“I putted extremely well today,” said the 60-year-old Olazabal, who won the Masters in 1994 and 1999. “It was good putting more than anything else.
“The rest of my game was not as sharp as it needed to be. I was missing my irons to the left. I just hung in there on the back nine.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Olazabal, who lives in the Basque Country in Spain, owns six PGA Tour titles and 30 professional wins.
At three shots back, there is an 11-player logjam at 3-under par.
Thursday was a nightmare on the course for defending Senior PGA champion Angel Cabrera. The 56-year-old from Argentina shot a 9-over 81 and is tied for 153rd place.
Play in the second round at The Concession Golf Club begins on Friday at 7:30 a.m.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: The 86th annual Senior PGA Championship has a three-way tie after round 1
Continue reading...
