Germany’s Bernhard Langer shot his age once again and grabbed a share of the lead at the Galleri Classic after Friday’s first round in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Langer and Australia’s Cameron Percy fired 5-under-par 67s at Mission Hills Country Club. They hold a one-shot lead over the trio of Jason Caron, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and Australian Richard Green.
Langer, 67, has already shot or broken his age three times this season. Friday’s round, a bogey-free loop with five birdies, was his 27th time achieving the feat on the PGA Tour Champions.
“I hope to inspire other people,” Langer said. “Some say, ‘Oh, I’m too old, I can’t get any better anymore.’ I still think in your 50s you can still improve, maybe even into your 60s depending on what level you’re playing at because golf is very technical. Obviously I’m a lot shorter now and I can’t keep up with the young guys, but it’s very technical, it’s very mental and a lot of it is short game where you don’t need strength, you just need great touch.”
Langer and the rest of the field dealt with the challenge of strong, swirling winds.
“Hit some decent shots and didn’t have to scramble too much,” Langer said. “Had a nice bunker shot on 17, hit the flag; that might have gone a few feet by otherwise. Had a good chance on 18 to go 6 under and didn’t make it. Very solid day.”
While Langer has won a record 47 times on the PGA Tour Champions, Percy is in the hunt for his first title. He made most of his career in Australia and had one win on the Web.com Tour (now known as the Korn Ferry Tour).
Percy was 6 under through 15 holes before consecutive bogeys pushed him back toward the pack. He rallied with a seventh and final birdie at the par-5 18th.
“It’s really hard. You’ve got to pick your shot, and if it goes through the wind you’re in all sorts of trouble,” the 50-year-old said. “Luckily for me, I drove it well and I was hitting fairways so that made a huge difference.”
Steve Allan of Australia, Stephen Ames of Canada and Felipe Aguilar of Chile are tied for sixth at 3-under 69.
–Field Level Media
