Bernhard Langer defied Father Time once again Thursday, posting a 6-under 66 to grab a share of the first-round lead at the Senior PGA Championship despite carding a double bogey during his round.
The 68-year-old German champion broke his age by two shots at Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida, marking the 43rd time in his career he has shot his age or better. Langer shares the lead with Miguel Angel Jimenez, Brian Gay, and Australia's Steve Allan.
"It's fun to shoot my age," said Langer. "So whenever I shoot my age or better, usually I've played some good golf. That's one of the goals these days, especially when you play a difficult golf course, and these greens here are very difficult."
The holder of 12 senior major championships overcame early struggles with a spectacular finish, playing his final six holes in 5-under par. The highlight came at the par-5 17th hole, where Langer holed a 60-foot eagle putt after hitting a 3-iron hybrid approach.
"If I would putt like that the rest of my career, I would be extremely happy," Langer said.
Langer's round nearly went even lower, but disaster struck at the 11th hole. His 6-iron approach shot narrowly missed the green, leaving him with a difficult downhill bunker lie to a short pin. When he tried to open the blade, the ball screamed across the green toward a cart path, leading to the double bogey that temporarily derailed his momentum.
The 62-year-old Jimenez matched Langer's total with an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole, going out in 31 before struggling on the back nine. Allan played bogey-free golf, collecting birdies on all but one of the par-5s, while Gay birdied three of his final four holes to join the leading group.
One shot behind at 5-under 67 are Ben Crane, Retief Goosen, and Thailand's Thammanoon Sriroj. Crane is making his senior major debut after turning 50 last month, while the 56-year-old Sriroj brings five Asian Tour victories to his first Senior PGA Championship appearance.
Two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, three-time major champion Padraig Harrington, and Greg Chalmers all opened with 4-under 68s to remain in early contention.
The tournament marks several notable debuts, including Henrik Stenson, who turned 50 on April 5 and opened with an even-par 72. The 2016 British Open champion had been competing on LIV Golf since 2022 but was relegated from the league last fall. While he remains ineligible for regular PGA Tour Champions events until one year after his last LIV appearance, he can compete in this major since it's run by the PGA of America.
This championship holds special significance for Langer, as it's the only senior major he has captured just once, winning in 2017 at Trump National in Virginia. Concession Golf Club is hosting the Senior PGA Championship for the first time under a three-year contract, taking over as host of the oldest senior major.
With challenging greens and unpredictable conditions ahead, Langer's experience and recent form suggest he'll remain a factor throughout the weekend as he chases his second Senior PGA Championship title and 13th senior major overall.
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*Originally published on [Golf News](https://golfnews.global/article/langer-shares-senior-pga-lead-after-breaking-age-at-68). Visit for full coverage.*
