Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer’s plans for a last hurrah at Augusta National this year were thrown into doubt on Friday as the 66-year-old German said he had torn an achilles tendon.
“Yesterday, during training exercises in Boca Raton, I tore my achilles tendon,” Langer said in a statement released through the PGA Tour.
“I will have surgery [Friday] to repair the injury, which will cause me to miss time playing competitive golf as I recover.
“Throughout my career, faith and family have been my bedrocks, providing me strength and guiding me through difficult times,” Langer added. “I will lean on both as I work towards a return to competition.”
Langer gave no timetable for a return, but the injury usually requires several months of recovery, making look unlikely he would be ready to play The Masters from 11-14 April.
Last year Langer broke Hale Irwin’s record for PGA Tour Champions victories, the circuit for 50 and over pros, when he won twice and reached 46 titles.
He won the first of his two Masters titles in 1985, when Seve Ballesteros, Raymond Floyd and Curtis Strange tied for second.
In 1993 Langer won by four strokes over Chip Beck.
Langer said in January he had planned to make his final appearance at The Masters this year.
Even if he can’t make it this year he could say his goodbyes next year since all Masters champions have a lifetime exemption into the field.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Kevin C Cox/Getty Images
