Colorado’s Mark Wiebe Wins Senior British Open

Wire Reports

SOUTHPORT, England — It was the best of times and the first of times.

For the first time in his 33-year professional career, Colorado's Mark Wiebe found himself in a playoff for a major title, competing with two-time Masters champion Berhard Langer for the Senior British Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

For the first time in the 27-year history of the Senior British Open, the event concluded on a Monday because darkness halted play Sunday after two playoff holes.

And for the first time, the 55-year-old Wiebe, who has two PGA Tour titles and three Champions Tour titles on his resume, hoisted a senior major championship trophy, having parred the fifth playoff hole while Langer bogeyed it.

“I'm speechless,” Wiebe said. “I think it's always better for both players had there been a birdie to win the playoff instead of a bogey, but right now, I don't really care. I'm glad it's over, and I'm honored.”

The finish followed a pattern established on the final hole Sunday. Leading by two strokes going into the par-4 18th, Langer—who had won the 2010 event—struggled to a double bogey while Wiebe made par, closing out a 4-under round of 66.

When the play resumed Monday, Langer missed another chance to win when his 12-foot putt wouldn't drop on the third playoff hole.

“I just was luckier today and last night than Bernie I guess,” Wiebe said. “I also feel like Bernie has won, what, a couple hundred tournaments. He's won so many, I feel like this was my turn.”

“Obviously, not what I wanted. But the major mistake was again yesterday, the 72nd hole,” Langer said. “In the playoff anybody can win. It comes down to one good shot or one bad shot. And that's what happened. Mark is a very deserving champion.”

 

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