PHOENIX — Bernhard Langer struggled to finish his first round on Thursday at the Phoenix Country Club. On Friday, he needed to hit a second tee shot at the start of his second round. Blame it on a bad back.
He says it started acting up during Wednesday’s pro-am, and while he said he thought it felt better before the first round, it actually got worse after taking some practice putts.
“I was in a lot of pain. I was this close from pulling out on the second hole,” he said after Thursday’s round. “It was the most pain I’ve had playing golf in 30 years. It was pretty bad.”
Langer managed a 3-under 68 but was in obvious discomfort down the stretch. He said he told his caddie that he “probably shouldn’t even be here right now, but somehow I started praying out there that the pain would subside and I managed to make it through, but it’s not good. Not sure I can do this for four days. Hopefully I’ll feel better tomorrow.”
On Friday, it didn’t seem any better, as Langer was seen on the practice green struggling to pick his ball out of the hole. He also appeared in discomfort on the tee box bending over to pick up his tee.
His playing partner Friday, Ernie Els, also hit a provisional on the first tee, but for Langer, he is giving it a go as he chases a record sixth Schwab Cup title.
Langer became the oldest winner on the PGA Tour Champions three weeks ago when he won the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Virginia at age 64. He has nine wins in all since he turned 60, which leads the tour. He came into the week atop the standings. Langer leads the tour all-time in money and is second all-time in wins with 42, three behind Hale Irwin’s 45.