Thumb injury pulls Bernhard Langer out of the Masters - Golf news
German golfing legend, Bernhard Langer, has confirmed that he will not be participating at the upcoming Masters in Augusta next month, owing to a thumb injury. Langer, a two-time Masters Winner, has not missed a single Masters since
1983 and his absence from the course this April will be quite a disappointment for his fans. The 53-year-old Langer had met an accident six months ago while riding his bike to the beach and the wound has not fully recovered as yet.
"Knowing that it wouldn't heal itself, I had to have surgery," Langer said Friday night after returning home from New York, where he had the ligaments in his thumb repaired. "It's not a good time for it, but you can't choose these
things."
Langer was riding his bike to the beach in the southern Florida when he came across a signal. He tried to push the button on the signal with his bike in motion and felt a sudden jerk in his thumb. He also told that he had been playing
in this condition for the last six months only to aggravate the situation.
"I felt a sharp pain pushing the button," Langer said. "I played three more tournaments with pain, then had six weeks off. I figured that I sprained it, and in six weeks it should be gone. But when I started again, it wasn't gone."
One of the first MRI reports did not reveal any long term damage to the thumb so Langer decided to go into the Ace group Classic with his thumb all taped up and ended up winning the title. The second MRI report later revealed that
there actually has been ligament damage. Langer was operated in New York and a full recovery is expected in eight months, around the Seniors PGA Championship.
Langer, however, also confirmed that he will be there at the opening ceremony as well as the Champions dinner on Tuesday night, and will also attend other obligations. The veteran Golfer will have his replacement in the form of current
World Number One, Martin Kaymer, who will be holding the German flag high at the Augusta National. Alex Cejka, playing in the tournament also hails from Germany.
Langer has already won two senior titles in the previous year, The US Senior Open and the Senior British Open. Langer will not only be missing out the Masters but will not be able to defend his title at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am
scheduled from April 15-17.
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