Langer dominates Chubb, ties Irwin's senior victory record

Bernhard Langer matched Hale Irwin’s PGA Tour Champions victory record of 45 on Sunday, winning the Chubb Classic in Naples, Fla., for the fifth time.

Langer, 65, matched his age with a closing 7-under 65 for a three-stroke victory over Steve Stricker and Padraig Harrington.

“It’s extremely special because we’ve been talking about it for so long, it seems now,” Langer said. “When I first came out here, I thought, ‘This is never going to happen.’ ”

Langer finished at 17-under 199 on Tiburon Golf Club’s Black Course. At 65 years, 5 months, 23 days, the German star extended his record as the oldest winner. He holds the top three spots on the list.

“Just right now, I just feel relieved and grateful and thankful for everybody that’s been on my team and helping me through these years, ” Langer said.

“Like we said, for a German kid from a village of 800 people and starting as a caddie to do what I’ve done, it takes a lot of people to do that, not just one.”

Langer also won Chubb titles in 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2022.

Stricker shot a 66, and Harrington closed with a 65.

DP World Tour

Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark won his seventh European tour championship by closing with a 6-under 66 for a four-shot victory in the Thailand Classic.

Starting the final round two shots ahead of countryman Nicolai Hojgaard and Yannik Paul of Germany, the Dane never let anyone threaten him in a bogey-free final round at Amata Springs Country Club in Chonburi.

Paul closed with a 68 to finish second.

Alexander Knappe of Germany, with a dazzling performance on the back nine where he managed seven birdies, finished with a 67 for 270 to finish joint-third along with Dutchman Joost Luiten (69).

Ladies European Tour

Lydia Ko began the new year the same way she ended 2022, with a big victory and a big check as she closed with a 4-under 68 to win the Aramco Saudi Ladies International.

Ko, the No. 1 player in women’s golf, held off Aditi Ashok of India to capture the richest prize among regular Ladies European Tour tournaments. She won $750,000 from the $5 million prize fund at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia.

Ko ended last year by winning the LPGA Tour finale and $2 million, the richest payoff in women’s golf, which elevated her to No. 1 in the world.

The Kiwi got married in December, skipped the LPGA Tour’s season opener in Florida last month and then showed she still was on top-ranked form.

It was her 26th victory worldwide.

“I’m playing with the world’s best. The field this week was really good, so I knew it was going to be a challenge,” Ko said.

“The first one of the year, it’s really hard because you don’t have anything to base yourself off. You don’t know if you’re going to play well or bad.

“But the start definitely helped, and I think I stayed really patient and I was not as nervous as I thought I would be, which is definitely good.”

Lilia Vu, who had a oneshot advantage going into the final round, slipped to a 71 and tied for third place with Manon De Roey of Belgium (63) and American Lexi Thompson (66).