Masters 2025: Ageless Bernhard Langer came so close to a longer goodbye at Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. — This was no time for tears or syrupy sentimentality. Bernhard Langer had a shot to hit.

The 67-year-old German and two-time Masters champion arrived at Augusta National Golf Club this week knowing it would be his final competitive tour around the course after deciding start No. 41 would be his last. Langer most likely figured Friday’s second round would signal his farewell on this now-beastly track. He would stride up the hill at the 18th in the sunshine to a standing ovation and adoring cheers, just as so many greats had done before him, and become one more figure in the Champions Dinner photograph who no longer does his work here inside the ropes.

But Langer has been a stubborn soul when it comes to walking into sunsets, as his all-time record of 47 victories (and counting) on the 50-and-older circuit attests. And he was not going quietly in this Masters. With four holes to play, he was three shots within the cutline, and even after making a double bogey at the par-5 15th that dumbfounded him, Langer was on the cut number of two over par when he faced a delicate short-side chip left of the 18th flagstick.

He had arrived at the green, waving his white visor to the first of three standing ovations, but his mind was whirring. “Am I walking up the 18th for the last time or am I going to be here tomorrow?” Langer would recall of the internal conversation.

Unfortunately for the 67-year-old, it was not to be. After considering using his broomstick putter, Langer hit a stubby chip that snuck onto the green but left him 11 feet to manage. His par-saving putt caught the right edge of the cup and stayed out. The bogey gave him a 73 for the round and at three-over 147 that caused him to miss the cut by one shot.

RELATED: How a 67-year-old put on a masterclass in scoring at Augusta National

Langer was a fraction from being the first player in memory to make the cut in the Masters he deemed his last. As a man, he will take away a lot of warm memories from the week. As a competitor, there were still the “what ifs”—even about whether he should have given up his spot in the tournament after a 36-hole run that bested the likes of Tony Finau, Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott, Cam Smith and Phil Mickelson.

“There were times the last couple days when I thought, you know, did you make the right decision here, or should you have waited another year or two with your last Masters?” Langer admitted. “Because I was, you know, playing quite well and very smart.

“But I think looking back, it is still the right decision, just for the reasons I shared a minute ago. It’s just the golf course is too long for me.”

Four decades of memories. #themasters pic.twitter.com/UdHpg8d4on

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2025

Langer noted that the Augusta course that has been lengthened by 650 yards since he last won in 1993 is simply not manageable for a senior hitting the ball 275 yards on his best drives. On Friday, Langer’s drive at the uphill 18th traveled only 248 yards, leaving him 202 yards to the flagstick. From there, his 3-hybrid didn’t cut and left him with the awkward chip. Many in the field have 8-irons or shorter into greens that have target areas only a few yards wide.

What pained Langer is that the critical double bogey he made at the 15th had nothing to do with length. He hit a nice drive and smart layup to 86 yards, and after seeing Will Zalatoris’ approach spin back into the pond (leading to an eventual 7), Langer was mindful of the challenge.

He’ll never regret the swing he took.

“I hit a perfect golf shot, literally, and I made 7, which is very annoying,” he said. “Otherwise, I would be here this weekend.

“That’s how golf is. It can be the greatest game, and sometimes it can be very brutal. It’s a very fine line of, you know, hitting a great shot or ending up in a terrible place.”

Bernhard Langer walks onto the 16th green to a standing ovation. (Stephen Denton)

As for locales in this world, few hold a more special place for Langer than Augusta, where his victories in 1985, at age 27, and in 1993 are the pinnacle performances in his World Golf Hall of Fame career.

For this celebratory week, Langer was followed in the gallery by his wife, Vikki, their four children, two grandchildren and numerous family members from his native Germany. They were there to greet him behind the 18th green on Friday, as was Masters chairman Fred Ridley, who warmly embraced him.

If Langer had tears in his eyes as he walked through an enthusiastic gantlet of patrons to reach the scoring room, they were but moisture, because the man so renowned for his cool concentration was quietly measured and graceful to the end.

Langer admitted that he was nearly brought to tears on the first tee on Thursday, anticipating the emotions that lay ahead.

“Come on, get it together,” he recalled saying to himself. “You’ve got some golf to play.”

There were no tears or syrupy sentimentality. Bernhard Langer had shots to hit.