AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bernhard Langer was one inch from making history.
The legendary German golfer's 12-foot par putt that would have put him above the cut line in his final Masters burned the right edge of the cup, leaving him with a tap-in bogey.
Langer, the longtime Boca Raton resident, settled for 1-over 73 Friday putting him at 3-over for the first two rounds. The cut line was 2-over.
That ended an emotionally charged week in which Langer was honored and recognized at every turn.
"It was a very special last two days for me," Langer said. "Even starting off walking to the first tee (Thursday), I got a standing ovation and the people really, you know, applauded. I almost teared up and almost started crying right there, and I said, 'Come on, get it together, you've got some golf to play.' "
Langer appreciated how that adulation continued for 36 holes.
"There were lots of emotions flooding through my mind the last two days as I was walking down the fairways," Langer said.
The 67-year-old Langer, who announced long ago this would be his last Masters, would have become the oldest man to make the cut.
Langer played in 41 Masters, winning in 1985, 1993
Langer, the 1985 and 1993 Masters champion, raised his visor and mouthed "thank you" to the cheering crowd after retrieving his final putt at Augusta National from the cup. He then was greeted by his family, including wife, Vikki Carol, four children and two of his grandchildren, and Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley.
Masters officials lined up to congratulate Langer as he walked to scoring.
"I just have so many wonderful memories of playing this golf course," said Langer, who hit 93 percent of his fairways, which tied him for first after two rounds.
Langer was 2-under after 14 holes Friday and well inside the cut line at even par. But his third shot — a sand wedge from 86 yards — on the par-5 15th hole spun back into the water and he settled for a double-bogey.
Langer said he would do nothing different on that ...
