Two-time champion Bernhard Langer was overjoyed with the start of his 41st and final Masters on Thursday before fading to a two-over par 74 at Augusta National.
The 67-year-old German, who won the green jacket in 1985 and 1993, thrilled spectators at the famed layout where he captured his only major triumphs.
“The atmosphere was fantastic,” Langer said. “I got lots of standing ovations all over the place, starting on number one and many other holes. People seem to really appreciate that I’ve been here for 40-odd years and what I’ve achieved, not just here but in my golf career.
“It was nice to see.”
The former world number one sank a 15-foot birdie putt at the third hole and grinded out pars to stay one-under and near the top of the leaderboard into Amen Corner, the treacherous stretch from the 11th through 13 holes.
Back-to-back bogeys at the par-three 12th and par-five 13th, missing a five-foot par putt on 12 and plunking his approach at 13 into Rae’s Creek, plus another at 17 doomed his bid to crack par.
“Still a pretty good score for me,” Langer said.
“I played really well the first 11 holes. Really well. Then I made a mistake on 12, took the wrong club, made bogey. On 13, I hit it a little fat in the water. Then regained my composure and played fairly solid from there on in.
“I’m pretty happy but made a couple of mistakes.”
Langer, who shared eighth in 2014 at age 56, was pleased despite the setbacks but figures he must do more if he hopes to make the cut in what he has declared is his final Masters appearance.
“Overall it was a pretty good round for a 67-year-old to get around here at two-under with the clubs I’m hitting, sometimes three-woods into par-fours and two hybrids and three hybrids.
“I’m very pleased with the performance. If I want to make the cut, I’ve got to do much better tomorrow.”
Langer wore a red outfit for what might be his penultimate Masters round, a nod to the similar outfit he wore when he won in 1985.
“I got so much stick wearing that with a green jacket, I figured I’d do it one more time,” Langer said of his crimson couture, noting he was in red long before Tiger Woods made it his signature Sunday shirt color.
“Tiger wasn’t the first one to wear a red shirt on Sunday.”
