It was a seemingly always a matter of when, not if. Now it’s official.
Bernhard Langer won for the 46th time on the PGA Tour Champions on Sunday when he captured the 2023 U.S. Senior Open at SentryWorld Golf Course in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
His 46th victory breaks a logjam he’s had with Hale Irwin since February. It’s his second U.S. Senior title and it’s a record 12th senior major for Langer, the ageless wonder who turns 66 in two months. It marks a 13-year gap between his two U.S. Senior titles, by far the biggest stretch on the senior circuit. He’s the only golfer to win all five senior majors.
Langer started his final round with a two-shot lead. Through five holes Sunday, he got to 9 under for the week to stretch that lead to five over one of the local favorites Jerry Kelly. On the seventh hole, Langer’s approach came to rest on the edge of the cup and the ensuing tap-in birdie gave him a six-shot lead.
That cushion allowed him to navigate a bogey-bogey-bogey finish and he made it all official with a final-round 70 to secure a two-shot victory over the other local favorite, Steve Stricker, who closed with a 69. Kelly was third at 4 under.
Langer’s accuracy and ability to putt from off the green over the weekend allowed him to avoid hitting a single chip shot over the closing 36 holes.
The best final round score Sunday – in fact, the best score of the week – was Steven Alker’s 6-under 65. Padraig Harrington, the 2022 U.S. Senior Open champ, finished 6 over, tied for 18th.
The 2024 U.S. Senior Open will be contested at Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island.