Bernhard Langer took a two-stroke lead Saturday within the U.S. Senior Open at troublesome SentryWorld within the 65-year-old German star’s bid to interrupt the PGA Tour Champions’ profession victory document.
Fan favourites Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly —each from Madison, 100 miles to the south — had been proper behind, with Retief Goosen and Y.E. Yang the one different gamers beneath par with a spherical left on the punishing tree-lined course with thick tough and tough greens.
Langer shot his second straight 3-under 68 to achieve 6 beneath. The 2010 U.S. Senior Open winner at Sahalee outdoors Seattle, Langer gained the Chubb Classic in Florida in February to tie Hale Irwin for the Champions’ profession victory document of 45.
“No, it’s not on my mind at all,” Langer stated in regards to the document. “Hopefully, my mind will not wander anywhere but on the next shot. That’s the secret to playing the best golf.”
Allen Doyle is the oldest winner in occasion historical past, taking the 2006 title at SentryWorld at 57 years, 11 months, 14 days.
Langer will play alongside Kelly on Sunday.
“I remember playing against Fred Couples in Seattle in this championship, and if there were 30,000 people, every one of them was cheering for Fred, and the only one for me was my caddie, who was my son,” Langer stated. “It was like a Ryder Cup match in America.”
Kelly and Stricker, paired collectively Saturday, closed with birdies on the par-4 18th, with Kelly making a 20-foot putt from the perimeter and Stricker following with a 15-footer. They every shot 68, with Kelly second at 4 beneath and Sticker third at 3 beneath.
“It’s really special,” Kelly stated, “Just being with one of my best friends out there in this kind of atmosphere at this level is pretty cool to do. Both shooting the same score, both in it still. We just had a lot of fun.”
Sticker gained the primary two senior majors of the yr and took his hometown Madison occasion three weeks in the past for his fourth Champions victory of the season.
Two-time U.S. Open champion Goosen and Yang had been 1 beneath. Goosen closed with a birdie for a 71.
“First nine, I didn’t miss one fairway, and really had my chances to go much lower and didn’t take it,” Goosen stated. “The greens were for some reason a lot slower today. I kept leaving everything a foot short.”
Yang had a 69.
“It’s good to play a course like this once in a while because it really helps you focus,” Yang stated. “I like it.”
Langer birdied the primary two holes and rebounded from a bogey on No. 4 with a birdie on No. 5.
“Got off to a dream start,” Langer stated. “My first five shots were as good as I can hit them, plus two really good putts. Started birdie-birdie, and had another birdie opportunity on 3, which I missed.”
He parred the subsequent 11 holes, made a 4-footer for birdie on the par-4 seventeenth, then obtained up-and-down for par on 18, practically holing a 40-foot attempt from off the inexperienced.
“Played really solid,” Langer stated. “Got a little shaky there in the middle and had to save a few pars. I think the greens slowed up a little bit somewhere along the line. Left a couple of putts short, long putts, and then had to make 4- to 6-footers, which is not my favorite distance.”
Langer opened with a 71 and shot his first 68 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over first-round chief Rod Pampling into the weekend.
Pampling had a 79 on Saturday to drop to six over. He had 7s on the par-4 fourth and par-5 fifth.
“You never want to have days like today, but unfortunately you have them,” Pampling stated. “Just let it go and get ready for tomorrow.”