(Reuters) – Double Masters Champion Bernhard Langer seeks a fourth KLM Open title when he lines up in the same field as his 17 year old amateur son Stefan this week at Kennemer.
Langer, eligible for seniors tours when he turns 50 on Monday, is attempting to be the oldest European Tour winner after claiming victories in the event in three decades.
In his last European Tour event ten weeks ago, the BMW International, Langer, seeking his 43rd European Tour title, finished tied second after pushing winner Niclas Fasth all the way on the final day in Munich.
After recovering from kidney stones, which forced him to withdraw from the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship of Europe in Hamburg last month, Langer said he was raring to go, if not yet fully fit.
"I was out of action for about two and a half weeks and I am not as fit as I was four weeks ago," Langer said.
"You deteriorate pretty fast lying around for over two weeks, but I have been working hard and I'm gaining strength and endurance."
Langer has relinquished his chance of playing in the lucrative Fedex Cup on the U.S. PGA Tour this week to play in a full tour event for the first time with son Stefan, who in 2001 was at Noordwijk to watch him win and also seal his Ryder Cup place.
Stefan, a scratch handicapper, won the Father-Son Challenge for major champions and their sons, with Bernhard in 2005 and 2006.
Father Langer, though, does not have high hopes for his son at the difficult North Sea links: "He has been struggling with his game and has tried to make some changes and it is difficult to play a tournament when you are between swings.
"I don't expect him to make the cut, to tell the truth, as it is such a tough golf course."
The Langer combination repeats the feat of the Spanish Garridos - Ryder Cup players father Antonio and son Ignacio - who first played together in the 1990 Spanish Open when Ignacio was 18.
