The champions 2025: Bernhard Langer, who is preparing for Augusta

Langer became twice in a career that promised a greater success, twice and third place.

The fact that he could not add a major than his two in Augusta strengthen his link to this legendary corner of Georgia.

In 40 appearances he made the average 27 times and ended in the top 10 nine times.

“It was an incredible journey for a young man who was born in a village with 800 people (in Bavaria, southern Germany), where Golf was nothing to make it here,” he said.

“Getting an invitation to play the masters when it was extremely difficult for European or international players to get one and then win the Masters at the third Go was only a dream.”

He was only the third non-American winner who stepped into the footsteps of the triple master Gary Player and Seve Ballesteros from Spain, who won twice.

His victory strengthened the Europeans that success could be achieved in Augusta.

Ballesteros paved the way with his victories in 1980 and 1983 before Langer won his first two years later.

Then the Scotlands Sandy Lyle, England’s Nick Faldo (twice) Wales’ Ian Woosnam, Langer and Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal collected six out of seven titles from 1988.

Langer’s debut took place in 1982, two years after the glass ceiling had broken.

The initial experience of German was hardly remarkable. He shot 77 and 78 and missed half the way for a three-story line in 36 holes on unknown green, who were too glowing for a naive 24-year-old.

“The first time to come here, to drive the Magnolia Lane and see this place for the first time was an eye opener,” he said.

“I’ve never had such a golf course or a tournament run as efficiently as it was.”