Bernhard Langer and his son Jason clinched their sixth PNC Championship win, edging out Tiger Woods and his son Charlie in a playoff. However, the victory sparked controversy among golf enthusiasts due to Langer’s strategic use of the competition’s age-based tee rules.
While Team Langer basked in their triumph, detractors shone a light on the event’s regulations, arguing that they provided 67-year-old Langer with an undue edge. Rather than receiving universal acclaim for their performance, attention was drawn to how Langer benefited from tees positioned significantly nearer to the hole compared to other competitors.
The contest reached a nail-biting conclusion after both teams finished at an unprecedented 28-under par over 36 holes. The playoff’s outcome hinged on the first hole, where Bernhard sunk an eagle putt to secure the win.
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“For me personally, it just makes me focus even more so,” Langer commented on not being the crowd favorite. “I seem to enjoy that challenge to be the underdog or to play in tough circumstances. It just helps me to zero in even more.”
“The crowd was more than anything I’ve ever played in front of for sure,” he added. “I’m not that competitive these days. I play a couple amateur events a year. But definitely today was not something that I am used to.”
In the tournament’s format, Langer was allowed to tee off from a distance over 700 yards shorter than Tiger and even closer than 15-year-old Charlie Woods. This rule, initially designed to level the playing field for senior competitors, has faced backlash from fans and media, particularly given Langer’s driving abilities on the PGA Tour Champions, where he averaged 275.5 yards off the tee this season.
Social media erupted with one golf fan on X stating: “Bernhard Langer is cheating with an anchored putter and playing from the women’s tees. There’s a reason they’ve won the PNC Championship so many times. Absolute disgrace.”
Bernhard Langer was also accused of anchoring (
(Image: Getty))
Another chimed in: “I’m here for all the Bernhard Langer slander for playing the up-up tees after being the most successful Champions Tour golfer ever. I couldn’t agree more.”
Others highlighted the clear imbalance, with another fan remarking: “Bernhard Langer should never be off tees further forward than a 15-year-old. Terrible decision to allow that.”
Langer’s putting technique also came under scrutiny for its long accused technique also appearing to break the rules. Accusations of anchoring occurred on each putt he made. Anchoring is a banned procedure where a golfer’s club or grip is secured against their body during a stroke.
Fans have revisited past criticisms of his youthful putting style, with some arguing that it gave him an unfair advantage. Although anchoring was banned by the USGA and RandA in 2016, Langer was exempt due to sufficient space between his club and chest.
Langer has had a successful golf career, boasting 45 PGA Tour Champions victories and two Masters titles in 1985 and 1993. His third PGA Tour win was at the 1985 Sea Pines Heritage tournament, and he’s amassed over $48 million in prize money over his career.
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