You would Bernhard Langer never pull the brakes. He is 67 and has 47 wins in the PGA Tour Champions, the most anyone could manage. Yet, Langer is hungry for more. By the way, he also tore his Achilles earlier this year and made a comeback just three months later. 

If the German International is racing to the finish line without a break, then controversy has also been hot on his heels all these years. From accusations of cheating to taking undue advantage in scrambling, here are three instances when the two-time Masters champion received fan backlash.

Playing from the front tee at the PNC Championship

Langer played from the red tee (6,036 yards) because of his age – that tee box was reserved for PGA Tour pros of 66-72 years. But many pointed out that the German International should’ve played from a different one, perhaps the same one as Charlie Woods. The two-time Masters champion teed off almost 50 yards ahead of Woods Jr. and 80 yards of Woods Sr. in the final playoff hole. Langer’s average driving distance this season was 275.5 yards. 

After his victory, many wondered if he could’ve won without that ‘head start’. However, it should be noted that the organizer decided to allot tees based on age, and Langer found himself in the same box as Annika Sorenstam, Nick Faldo, Nick Price, Tom Lehman, and Will McGee.

Bernhard Langer was accused of anchoring

Accusations of anchor putting have chased Langer since the early days. The 67-year-old resorted to a broomstick putter to fix his putting yips. However, with that came undue attention that Langer is anchoring his club against his chest. The two-time major winner has refuted the allegations, and USGA clarified that Langer’s actions were not in violation of any rules. It never convinced his detractors. At the Senior US Open, Langer was accused of cheating, with fans clamoring for a ban on long putters. 

Building a tee on the bunker at the PNC Championship

At the recently concluded PNC Championship, Bernhard Langer brought out his driver on the fairway bunker. It was a scramble and he was allowed to place the ball on a favorable lie. Bernhard Langer picked a mound of sand and used it as a tee to hit it. Tiger Woods was impressed, but not the wider golf community. ESPN’s Paolo Uggetti suggested there should be some restrictions in placing the ball. Many on social media agreed. 

Well, even in victory, Bernhard Langer had to endure criticisms from a section of the media and fans. Previously, the three-time PGA Tour winner has defended his actions claiming he would never do something that violated the rules of golf. But as it was in the 1980s, four decades later, fans haven’t let him off the hook.