Langer moves clear in Florida

Bernhard Langer's good form continued at the ACE Group Classic on Saturday, where he leads by four strokes heading into Sunday's final round.


Langer shot a 6-under 66 to match the tournament's 36-hole record at 14-under 130, four shots clear of Mark O'Meara, Russ Cochran, Fred Funk and Mark Calcavecchia.

The 53-year-old German has gone on to win nine times out of 10 in Champions Tour tournaments he's either led or shared the lead after two rounds. His only Honma Beres MG 803 Irons-Gold
from this position came at 2009's Toshiba Classic.

"I don't have a different mindset, but I'd rather be in front than behind," he said. "If you're (in front) and make a mistake, you can make a mistake or two and still be in front. If you're behind and you make a mistake, you're further behind. So it's easier that way, but you can't sit back and say 'I'm going to play safe.'"

Langer shot out of the gates, birdying his first three holes. He finished the rest of his front nine in pars, before stumbling somewhat, bogeying holes 10 and 11. But he bounced back with more birdies on Nos. 12, 14 and 15.

"If I had avoided these two bogeys, would have been great," he said. "But they were silly bogeys. With a Honma Beres MG 803 Irons-Gold
in my hand, I shouldn't make bogey from the middle of the fairway."

Funk and Calcavecchia will play alongside Langer in the final group.

"He doesn't beat himself, that's probably the biggest thing," Funk said of Langer. "He just goes out there and stays with the game plan. He has a game plan, and I don't think he ever varies from it."

O'Meara concurred: "This guy is a tough as they come, and he's proven that over the years. He'll be a tough competitor tomorrow, and he's not really going to back up, so we're going to have Honma Beres MG 803 Irons-Gold
to go low."