Bernhard Langer has always been a fighter, ever since his childhood in West Germany.
But this week at Carnoustie, the site of the 2024 Senior Open Championship, Langer has a new battle on his hands—one that he could struggle with, considering he ruptured his Achilles on Feb. 1. The two-time Masters champion will have to walk the Scottish links, the first time he will hoof a tournament since he injured himself playing pickleball.
“Some of us in America have the ADA, the American Disability Act, and I’m on there right now with my torn Achilles’, and so we get a golf cart in America. Probably right now, about eight or ten of us, including Vijay Singh, Paul Broadhurst, and John Daly, to mention a few, and most of them didn’t get one here,” Langer said.
“But they still made the trip and will try to walk, even though it’s painful and difficult. Some of us aren’t even sure we will make it, to tell you the truth. I haven’t walked four times 18 holes since last year, not since my injury. I’ve only walked 18 holes twice. I’m not sure I can do it, but I hope I can.”
Langer has made six appearances on the PGA Tour Champions since the beginning of May, when he returned from a three-month hiatus following his injury. But in each of those instances, he used a golf cart to help get around. He has two top-10 finishes within that span, including a tie for third at the Principal Charity Classic in early June.
Langer also competed in the BMW International Open in his native Munich, which marked his final start on the DP World Tour in 50 years.
“The game is not too bad. Just walking is a problem. So I can make swings and rotate on my leg,” Langer explained further.
“I can’t practice as much as I’d like to because of the swelling that occurs every single day, and then later in the day, it just gets really stiff and immobile, you know, when the ankle swells up, and the foot is hard to move and to walk. Sometimes, my swing gets worse as the day goes on. That’s not helpful. So, I need to be patient with that. But as far as it goes, my golf hasn’t been that bad considering what I’ve been through.”
Indeed, Langer’s results have been impressive since his return. Langer, who won the 2010 Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie, has finished no worse than T-42 this season, which came at the U.S. Senior Open in Newport, Rhode Island.
But Langer never won an Open Championship during his heyday. Instead, he posted eight top 10s and twice finished runner-up. In 1981, American Bill Rogers claimed his only major title with a four-shot victory over Langer at Royal St. George’s. Three years later, in one of the greatest Open Championships of all time, Langer tied for second with Tom Watson, finishing two back of Seve Ballesteros.
Despite that, Langer still has a drive and a focus in him that is second to none.
“It’s definitely one of the highlights every season,” Langer said.
“Obviously, we all play to win majors, and this is the only one on this continent. It’s usually part of my calendar if I’m healthy, and I’m glad to be back here at Carnoustie.”
Langer is just healthy enough to play this week, attempting to win his fifth Senior Open title. He already has a record of four, an impressive accomplishment. Still, if he could somehow pull out a victory this week, it would undoubtedly be the most remarkable win of his career, given the pain that he has to endure.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.