It may have been little more than a procession, but Bernhard Langer’s Sunday stroll to victory at Royal Porthcawl was a fitting conclusion to one of the most stunning 72-hole exhibitions that anyone has surely seen.
The legendary German, two-time Masters Champion, would humble this magnificent Welsh links to complete a truly remarkable 13-shot triumph in the 28th Senior Open Championship.
Warm and dry conditions entering the week had resulted in this wonderful course becoming firm, fast and uncooperative, setting what for many was the optimum challenge of seaside golf. It would reward an on-course strategist with the skills to execute the mapped out plan. It was primed for Bernhard Langer.
Opening the week with rounds of 65 and 66, the 56-year-old, who won this Championship in 2010 at Carnoustie, had established a commanding lead that was always going to be difficult for his would-be challengers to overcome.
Often in these positions, the runaway leader stalls, or comes back to the rest, but in this case, the imperious German channelled the skills of Martin Kaymer at Pinehurst by moving further clear of the field leaving the eventual result in little doubt.
Starting the final round with an eight-shot lead, Langer seemed impervious to the strengthen breeze bustling south-west Wales by birdieing the second and third holes to extend his lead even further. A dropped shot on the next hole, just his fourth of the week, would end hopes of a Sunday of perfection, but he soon redeemed himself with birdies at the sixth and seventh.
As he entered the back-nine, now enjoying the unique experience of a double-digit lead in a major, Langer would cancel out a bogey on the 11th with a birdie on the 12th. A succession of pars would come, before he savoured a rapturous reception from the appreciative 10,000 Welsh fans in attendance. They knew that something special had been witnessed.
The former world number one would tap-in for birdie on the last to complete a remarkable triumph, finishing at 1-under and 13 shots ahead of two-time senior major winner Colin Montgomerie, who described Langer’s exploits this week as “one of the golfing performances of all time.”
Without trying to sink in the depths of hyperbole, it is difficult to underplay just how impressive this performance was from Langer. Only four other players completed the four-day’s under-par, which makes the German’s total even more astonishing. The manner in which he meticulously plotted his way around this testing layout was admirable, with the execution and shot-making stupendous.
It was a performance, a week, and a victory that even Langer himself might just be stunned by.
“This is very unusual,” said Langer, who has now secured his place in a 30th Open Championship next year at St. Andrews. “I've won a tournament by 17, the World Championship under 25 years, but this just doesn't happen, not with the competition you're facing. And certainly not in a Major usually where the best from around the globe are playing in the Championship. So it's been an amazing week for me.”
Last year, the former European Ryder Cup captain will feel like he threw away the opportunity to win the Championship at Birkdale, before losing in a marathon playoff to Mark Wiebe. But he certainly redeemed himself 12 months on.
“I am just very blessed to be able to play such good golf, and I really enjoy the 18 holes today because there wasn't too much pressure,” said the World Golf Hall of Famer. “I still had to obviously hit some decent shots and make some putts, but I got off to a great start, and you know, increased my lead and it was a real pleasure to be playing the last ten, 12 holes.”
Colin Montgomerie has been used to winning of late, but the two-time senior major champion took some pleasure from finishing in sole-possession of second after a final round of 69.
“There is satisfaction in finishing second today. The rest of us were playing for second place, and I feel that I won. I won the battle. There were 144 in the field and I beat 143 of them, it was just him. But that he is awfully good, I must admit.
“I've played well here, and I've lost by 13, which is ridiculous. All credit to him.”
All credit, indeed, to Bernhard Langer. A performance that was a pleasure to witness, and one that will surely rank highly in a career littered with magnificent moments.