Langer cruises to Champions Tour win
Updated: June 07, 2009, 22:25
LAKEWAY, Texas(AP) Bernhard Langer became the first three-time winner on the Champions Tour this season, closing with a 5-under 67 on Sunday for a six-stroke victory over Mark O'Meara in the Triton Financial Classic.
"This is probably as dominant as I've been this year,'' said Langer, the first wire-to-wire winner this year on the 50-and-over tour. "I've won big before, but this is the best for this year.''
The German star, a seven-time winner since joining the Champions Tour late in the 2007 season, finished at 15-under 201 on The Hills Country Club course, matching the tournament record set by Scott Hoch in 2007.
"This is what we work and practice for,'' Langer said. "Winning never gets old.''
O'Meara, winless on the Champions Tour, shot a 70 for his third runner-up finish of the year and sixth overall, while Dana Quigley shot a 69 to end up another shot back. Hoch (71), Larry Mize (69) and Gene Jones (74) tied for fourth at 7 under.
"I guess second is better than third or fourth, but Bernhard got off to a fast start and I didn't match him,'' said O'Meara, a two-time major champion on the PGA Tour. "I think I'm moving in the right direction, but there is not much you can do when he has a lead to start with and then keeps it going.''
The tournament-record six-stroke margin doubled the previous tour high this year.
"I didn't really look at a scoreboard until I got to 15, then I realized if I didn't do anything silly I would win,'' Langer said.
After a birdie on the par 5 17th, Langer took the six-shot lead over O'Meara to the dangerous and watery par-3 18th.
He only needed to hit the green to ensure the victory and two-putted to cement the win, raising both arms high into the air when the final putt found the cup.
Langer entered the round a stroke ahead of Jones, and three in front of O'Meara. The two-time Masters champion shot a front-nine 32 and increased his lead to five shots by the time he made the turn.
