Bernhard Langer of Germany sank a five-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to beat Jeff Sluman in the Constellation Senior Players Championship at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh.
Langer, who claimed his 21st Champions Tour victory including three majors, started the day with a three-stroke lead, but stumbled in the middle of his round and needed a 45-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to shoot even-par 70 and get into the playoff–where he earned his third title of the season.
“I had a nice lead and started strong and didn’t play that badly,” said Lager, the two-time Masters Championship. “But on the two easiest holes, I hit over the green and made a bogey and a double bogey that cost me dearly.
” … But you have to de so patient in this game and I was able to do that. This is very satisfying, because I had come close a number of times.”
Sluman, who captured the 1988 PGA Championship, played the weekend in 64-65 and barely missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole that would have given him his first major title on the senior circuit.
Left-hander Russ Cochran closed with a 67 and missed the playoff by one shot in solo third, while defending champion Kenny Perry was another stroke back in fourth after a 69 and Mark McNulty of Ireland finished four shots behind in fifth with a 66.
Corey Pavin of Oxnard and UCLA closed with a 67 and wound up in a tie for sixth that included Mark O’Meara of Mission Viejo and Long Beach State, who had a 68.
