ASCENSION CHARITY CLASSIC

September 8, 2024

Bernhard Langer

Norwood Hills Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. I know that's not the result you wanted, but you must be awfully satisfied to shoot 64 in the final round, especially after what you have gone through in the last few months.

BERNHARD LANGER: Yeah, no, thrilled in how I played and fought. You know, made a clutch birdie on 18 there and a very good up and down after I had mud on the ball in the middle of the fairway on 17, which is a miracle how you can get mud on the ball this late in the day, but it happened.

So anyway, great up and down. Yeah, played well. I had another birdie chance in the playoff and I missed, he made. You know, he played great golf. Stewart Cink had a chance, too. It was a great match all day long.

Q. What did that putt do on the extra hole?

BERNHARD LANGER: Well, the first putt I had was very similar. Broke about a cup and a half, so I played it about the same. Just stayed a little high, so it just went over the right edge or on the outside, on the high side.

Q. What do you see in Y.E.'s game? First victory on the PGA TOUR Champions.

BERNHARD LANGER: Very consistent. Drives the ball straight and long. Hits a lot of good iron shots. Does everything well. You know, chips it well, putts it pretty good. Not really a weakness in his game right now.

Yeah, that's why he's probably in the Top 5 or so in the Schwab Cup standings right now, right?

Q. Going forward with the leg, does it feel like it's improving daily?

BERNHARD LANGER: No. I wish it was. You know, I'm in the middle of it so I don't see a lot of improvement. You know, if I look back two months, yeah, I'm definitely walking better than I did two months ago.

So there is some improvement, but it's slow. It's going to continue to take probably five more months or something like that. That's what I'm told. I would like to have it happen sooner, but it's not.

Q. There was a lot of drama; you made the big putt. Tell me about the last couple holes.

BERNHARD LANGER: Yeah, it was a lot of drama all day long really from the very first hole. Stewart Conk had the lead with Y.E. Yang, and then he bogeyed and we birdied.

So it was back and forth and this and that. All day long nobody could really separate themself from the rest of the field. It was pretty much in our group, the three of us were just head-to-head, like a see-saw battle.

It looked like Stewart, if he finished well could have won it. Then he hit a horrible tee shot on 17; got a bad break; made bogey when Y.E. made birdie, so now Y.E. is in the driver's seat.

Then I made birdie on 18. We know all that.

It was just very exciting I think to watch, and we both hit incredible second shots again into 18. I was maybe an inch further away and I missed my putt and he made it; that's the difference.

Q. Even though you've been doing it a long time is there an adrenaline rush in a playoff hole? Is it fun for you?

BERNHARD LANGER: Not just when you're in the playoff. It's happening all the time when you're in contention. Still means something. Yeah, for me it would've meant to win another tournament at age 67. I don't think that has been done out here.

But we'll see. Maybe it happens some weeks in the future.

Q. Last thought. Bringing the tournament back. You've been here, been a regular. What has it meant to you to come here?

BERNHARD LANGER: I think it's a wonderful golf course, great venue, and the people embrace it, the city embraces it, the members of the club seem to love us, sponsors do a great job. We're thrilled to be coming back next year.