Why did Bernhard Langer play a different tee off than Tiger Woods? Controversial move explored
On Sunday, December 22, Bernhard Langer claimed yet another PNC Championship title with his son Jason after defeating Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods in a playoff finish. However, a certain section of golf fans raised eyebrows at Langer's use of a different tee box than Woods.
Bernhard Langer won his sixth PNC Championship, while Jason claimed his fourth. While Tiger and Charlie were teeing off from boxes nearly 7,100 yards away, Langer was teeing off from the red boxes, which were placed just over 6,000 yards.
Although many golf fans criticized the sizeable difference in tee box distances, the 67-year-old golfer was well within the PNC rules. According to the PNC, players aged between 65 and 72 are permitted to use the red tee boxes.
The divisions of the tee boxes at the PNC Championship explored feat. Bernhard Langer and Tiger Woods
There were four divisions of the tee boxes for the PNC Championship. The first was the Gold Course, a full 7,106-yard layout for professionals aged 53 and under. This group included Trevor Immelman (44), Matt Kuchar (45), Tiger Woods (48), Stewart Cink (51), Justin Leonard (52), David Duval (53), and Padraig Harrington (53).
Next was the White Course, which measured 6,576 yards for professionals aged 54-65, LPGA members, and family members aged 14-55. This division included Charlie Woods (15), Carson Kuchar (15), Hunter Hannemann (17), Alexander Hull (17), Jacob Immelman (18), Luke Leonard (18), Brady Duval (19), John Daly II (21), Patrick Harrington (21), Sean Lehman (21), Jason Langer (24), Nelly Korda (26), Greg Price (33), Daniel Trevino (32), Matthew Faldo (35), Shaun O'Meara (35), and Qass Singh (34).
PGA Tour professionals in this group included John Daly (58), Steve Stricker (57), Vijay Singh (61), and Fred Couples (65).
Then, there was the Red Course, measuring 6,036 yards for professionals aged 66-72, LPGA members aged 50 and over, 13-year-old juniors, and family members aged 55-66. The players in this division included Nick Faldo (67), Bernhard Langer (67), Mark O'Meara (67), Nick Price (67), Tom Lehman (65, committee discretion change), Annika Sorenstam (54), Petr Korda (56), Izzi Stricker (18), and Will McGee (13).
Finally, there was the Blue Course, which measured 5,484 yards for professionals aged 73 and over, juniors 12 and under, and family members aged 67 and over. Gary Player (88) and Lee Trevino (84) were the only two players who started from the Blue tee.