Bernhard Langer’s efforts in last week’s Seniors Open merit serious discussion on him being given a Ryder Cup wildcard.
Langer destroyed the field at Royal Porthcawl to win by 13 shots. He has been dominating all year on the Champions Tour, but that performance should have made European captain Paul McGinley take notice.
He has downplayed the idea, while Rory McIlroy has dismissed it altogether.
But there is a month to go before Paul names his wild-cards and he doesn’t have to rule anyone out. If he does, then it’s not for golfing reasons.
US captain Tom Watson played at both Porthcawl and in The Open, and felt the Welsh course was three strokes harder. So for Bernhard to shoot 18-under par, one less than McIlroy at Hoylake, was outstanding.
Bernhard is playing the best golf of his life. He’s still super fit and is the same weight as in his prime. He’s hitting the ball further, he’s ironed out a kink in his technique and he’s always been regarded in the trade as a great chipper and
putter.
The stats back it up four wins, and nine more top-10s from 14 events. He’s only competed once on the main tour in 2014 but he was a very creditable eighth at Augusta. That was better than all bar one of Europe’s Ryder Cup contenders.
He is keen to play at Gleneagles, and believes he is good enough and can make a real contribution.
That has been driving him on all season. And if Miguel Angel Jimenez is in the running for the team, why not Langer? Ruling him out because of age is unfair and too simplistic.
He should be ‘in the conversation’ for the three wildcards, and I think he is a real threat to some of Europe’s misfiring stars.
Especially when he is playing so well and the likes of Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald have been struggling.
Langer would not let anyone down. No-one would relish playing against him. Imagine the pressure on any American player trying to beat the 57-year-old!
Or think of a fourball or foursome combination of him and US Open Champion Martin Kaymer. They would be the mentally-toughest pair Europe have ever had.
The question is whether he could manage five rounds at Gleneagles.
I know Bernhard well and he is the strongest-minded person I’ve ever met, so I have no doubts.
It takes a brave man to ever under-estimate him.
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