Langer Soars to Four-Stroke Edge at Senior Players Championship


Bernhard Langer isn't going to give up his title easily in the Senior Players Championship. After starting the second round with a two-stroke lead at historic Belmont Country Club in Massachusetts, the 57-year-old German reeled off his second straight 6-under 65 to double his lead in the third major of the year on the Champions Tour.

Langer had eight birdies and two bogeys Thursday, and tacked on six more birdies Friday to reach 12-under 130, four shots clear of Russ Cochran, who also had a 65.

"Somebody said 'that's pretty boring stuff 65 and 65' but I don't think it is, I'd like to do that every day," said Langer. "I played better today than I did (Thursday) and I just didn't get as much as I should have out of the round.

"But it is still a pretty good score and I'm just happy to be hitting fairways and greens for the most part. I'm given myself opportunities and I'm pretty happy with the ball-striking," added Langer, a 23-time winner on the over-50 circuit.

"I made the odd putt here and there so it was stress-less 65 if you want to call it that. Today was ... a little bit easier."

Trailing the World Golf Hall of Fame member and two-time Masters champion by six is Sweden's Jesper Parnevik (66) and Americans Lee Janzen (69) and Steve Pate. Pate broke the course record matched by Langer Thursday with a scintillating eight-birdie 63.

Seven back are Americans Kevin Sutherland (66) and Guy Boros (70), while trailing Langer by a distant eight shots are Woody Austin, Brad Faxon, Joe Durant, Kirk Triplett, Loren Roberts and Marco Dawson.

Faxon, a native New Englander with two victories on the Champions Tour, posted a 64 for the best score of the group tied for eighth.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/champions/leaderboard.html.